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.

Thank you netgalley and Storm for this arc.

This is a fast paced, engaging thriller. Shifting between Aimee's current pov and Dream's past pov. The past and present chapters mesh well and move the story along. The author did a great job at getting you hooked into the story from the beginning. It did give me Lifetime movie vibes.

Overall I really enjoyed this one. There were a few timeline inconsistencies that bugged me, hopefully they are found in the final edit. Just a couple silly things like when talking about the store being closed on Mondays but then at the same time Archie had been at school the day before, but it would have been Sunday so that confused me. Also towards the end in the winter when she was trying to leave John's house she said she had to go open the store...except the store was closed until Spring so not sure what she was opening. Again nothing major to detract from the overall story but they did catch my attention.

The twists were good, but I did figure it out so they weren't shocking to me.

I'll give this one 4 stars because it was entertaining.

This is a story of new beginnings and building a dream life with a haunting past that doesn't want to stay hidden. It's told in a dual timeline with many twists and surprises along the way. I enjoyed the story and didn't guess the plot but the writing style is what kept it from being higher than a 3 star. It took me a while to get into it and written very simply, almost rudimentary.

I would still recommend this if you come across it as a quick thriller!

What an unexpected ending!

Set primarily on the East Coast, Aimee and Archie leave the big city life and move to the country to her ideal home along with enough acreage to run a small farm. Upon arrival, they learn their realtor had just been murdered! This small rural town is shaken by this act of violence. Aimee keeps having a sense that something's not right - someone is watching, been in their home, moving things, etc. But this is the present day timeline.

The other timeline is from several years prior, where Aimee led a completely different life in a commune in what's described similarly to the Hollywood hills. There's a bit of a Manson Family vibe to this part of the story, though not in a sinister way.

Tough to review without spoiling things, or even hinting, but I can absolutely say that I did NOT see this ending coming whatsoever. Wild doesn't even begin to describe it. I stayed up far too late to finish this one!

Thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Sally Royer-Derr for the eARC.

Aimee and Archie have been married for a year after a whirlwind romance. Aimee has recently come into a big inheritance from her aunt, so they purchase a small farm in a little town. This is to be their forever home. However, Aimee has a past- she was in a cult 11 years ago. Archie does not know this about her. "Gifts", notes, and different things keep happening to her in her home. Is this her past catching up to her?

The description really caught my attention. However, I had difficulty liking or connecting to most characters. Aimee seems awful from the opening page. She describes she and Archie as "the golden couple", explains that she is demanding and wants everything to be specific to her liking. When she meets the neighbor who brings baked goods to welcome then, Aimee thinks, "Wow, she really doesn't know when to stop" (this was in reference to Robin asking questions and telling Aimee that she teaches at the school Archie will be teaching at).

Archie seemed ok at first, but when Aimee is telling him about things that are happening, and that his new friend Johnny "gives her the creeps", he dismisses her feelings and continues the friendship- even inviting Johnny to Thanksgiving dinner. And Archie and Aimee know nothing about each other- I mean zero! That was a hard thing for me to swallow- most people when they begin a relationship share a lot! I mean even con artists and creeps make up a backstory!

the story is also told between multiple POV's, and there were times when this got confusing. There is also a lot of repetition of thoughts and descriptions. At the last half of the book, Aimee rambles a lot, and so the story dragged.

The ending of the story was rushed and very contrived. There was no build up to one of the characters that was critical in the end scene, and the explanation of why they were there, what motivated them to help the other character. It felt like the author was trying to make a connection for his motives at the last minute.

I encourage you to read other reviews, as this is my personal experience and thoughts on this book but many other reviewers really loved it!

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC. This is my voluntary, honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.

Aimee and Archie are newly married and making a fresh start in a new town. He is a teacher and she is ooo op ending a fresh produce stall. They live an idyllic life, but someone who knows Aimee’s past threatens to upset that.

Told from the point of view of Aimee in the present and Dream in the past, we slowly learn bits of Aimee’s past.

This was a slow burner, but once it got going I couldn’t put it down. I had a lot of theories as to who the mysterious dream was, but none correct. I enjoyed the drip feed of Dream’s tales and enjoyed trying to relate that to the present.

This was a really good read and I recommend it.

I honestly don't know how to rate or review this book. It's hard to say anything without spoilers. But, here goes:

Brief synopsis: 2 timelines.
The first is in the present where a young couple buy a country home because she loves nature and wants to open a store with fresh products.
The second timeline is about 8 years earlier where the same woman lives in a commune. It was very hard to figure out how the second would become relevant to the first. But, of course, it does.

The first 75% of the story was just ok. The reader gets insight into both lifestyles of the female character. She wasn't particularly likeable in either timeline. Nor, were the men she was involved with. The storylines just sort of meandered along. So far we have a mediocre, aimless story with boring characters. There are a few hints that the past would come back to haunt the present.

Then, the twists started!!! Often the reader has an idea where things are headed. Not this time, not this reader. Huge twists, that just didn't stop. Shocking! I truly had no idea what the reality would turn out to be. One twist after another. And a lot of casualties along the way.

So, I have to give 2 ratings. One for the first 75%, one for the last 25%. 3 stars for the first (it wasn't terrible, just not great) but definitely 5 stars for the last. Any storyline that can shock and surprise me this much deserves that. The final rating is 4 stars.

And, I love the cover!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

Diolch Netgalley a Storm Publishing am y copi cyn cyhoeddi.

Dw i'm yn siŵr lle i ddechrau efo hwn, wrth ddechrau darllen roeddwn i'n eithaf pendant fy mod wedi dyfalu'r trywydd y byddai'r stori yn ei ddilyn, yn gwybod yn iawn pwy oedd yn achosi aflonyddwch i Aimee yn ei chartref newydd gyda'i gŵr Archie. Ond roeddwn i ymhell ohoni, gyda nifer o droeon annisgwyl a datblygiadau nad oedd modd eu rhagweld o gwbl. Roedd yr ysgrifennu yn neidio o'r presennol i'r gorffennol ac yn adrodd yr hanes o safbwynt Aimee yn y presennol a'i chyn-gariad Dream yn y gorffennol. Roedd llif y stori yn gyflym ac yn hawdd ei ddarllen, roeddwn yn teimlo fy nghalon yn curo wrth i Aimee ddarganfod sawl peth oedd yn codi ofn arni yn ei chartref a'i chymuned newydd. Roeddwn i'n amheus o'r cymeriadau anghywir bob tro, gan ddangos dawn Sally Royer-Derr i'n twyllo a'n hargyhoeddi yn ei hysgrifennu. Nofel afaelgar, annisgwyl a llawn dirgelwch!

I'm not sure where to start with this one, as I started reading I was pretty certain I had guessed which way this story would lead, and knew exactly who was causing all the disturbance for Aimee in her new home with her husband Archie. But I was so wrong, with many unexpected turns and developments that certainly couldn't be predicted. The writing jumped from the past to the present and told the tale from Aimee's perspective in the present, and her former boyfriend Dream in the past. The story was fast paced and easy to read, I could feel my heart beating as Aimee discovered several things that made her fearful in her new home and her new community. I was always suspicious of the wrong characters, which demonstrates Sally Royer-Derr's ability to deceive and convince us in her writing. A gripping, unexpected story, full of mystery!

Finding a forever home is top of the list. Or is hiding your past?
Whichever you choose is this book & so much more. Hidden secrets and some things you can’t hide so well.
Very well planned out & creepy book.

Who thinks of these things?? There’s so many twists and turns in this book that you’ll be hooked from the first page to the last. It’s told in two different timelines - one in the past when a character had a different life and the other now. You won’t want to put this book down and I highly recommend it for lovers of thrillers. Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’m sorry to say that I really didn’t rate this book. I found the plot dull up until halfway through and then after that it became bizarre and unbelievable. The character of Aimee became absurd.

Apologies not to be able to give a positive review, but with thanks to the publisher for giving me access to this ARC in return for an honest review.

Very twisty book which kept me hooked and wanting to read more. Very creepy and interesting read. I liked the dual timelines

2023 - Aimee and Archie , the newlyweds buy their dream home, a farmhouse with acres of land in a quaint town in Pennsylvania. New jobs, new beginnings and hopes of utter bliss, until strange occurrences begin to happen which Aimee is convinced is connected to her past.

2016 - Aimee was known as Sunshine Lotus (sunny) living in a commune, a utopia of sorts known as Listening Lark.

As the chapters flip between both times we learn Aimee is trying to hide something or from someone and we question why her past has been kept such a big secret.

A definite page turner, a little bit creepy and with a lust for uncovering what is bringing the past to the present I read this in one sitting. We’ve got some characters that play pivotal roles in the story and bring it all together to a great ending.

Many thanks to NetGalley, publisher and author for my eARC