I found "A Mother's Betrayal" to be an utterly gripping read; it was an emotional rollercoaster from beginning to end that I simply couldn't put down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my ARC.

A brilliant read, A rollercoaster ride of emotions while reading this book, heartache and happiness. So hard to put down once I started.

When Julia Hudson is involved in a near-fatal accident, the lives of her children – nurse Flo and her twin sister, high-flying lawyer Ari – are sent into freefall.

As they sit vigil by their mother’s bedside, the sisters discover that Julia, who has always preached unwavering principles and integrity, has been keeping a terrible secret. A secret that shatters everything they’ve ever believed about their family.

But the twins have each other… or do they? Because Julia is not the only one keeping secrets…

With Julia in a coma and unable to answer their questions, her journals might provide the answers they seek. But Julia’s journals reveal yet another dark secret. One that will make the sisters question every part of the life they’ve lived.

If you can’t trust your mother, who can you trust? And – with their mother’s life in the balance – can the sisters find a way to forgive her, before it’s too late?
Loved it. Cannot wait to read more from the author.

Loved this book. The twists and turns were brilliant and so well written. Great characters and an unexpected outcome

"A Mother's Betrayal" by Louise Guy is a gripping and emotional thriller that delves into the complexities of family dynamics, secrets, and the lengths one will go to protect loved ones. The story centers on a mother whose seemingly perfect life is shattered by shocking revelations that challenge her relationships and her very identity.

Guy's writing is taut and engaging, expertly building tension as the plot unfolds. The characters are well-crafted, particularly the protagonist, whose internal struggles and moral dilemmas resonate deeply. The narrative explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the often blurred lines between right and wrong, making readers question the motivations behind each character's actions.

The pacing is swift, with unexpected twists that keep readers on the edge of their seats. Guy skillfully balances suspense with emotional depth, allowing readers to connect with the characters’ experiences on a personal level.

Overall, "A Mother's Betrayal" is a compelling read that combines psychological tension with heartfelt moments. It's a thought-provoking exploration of the bonds of motherhood and the sacrifices one makes, ensuring it will leave a lasting impression on readers.

A Mother's Betrayal by Louise Guy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


Another emotional rollercoaster family drama heat pumping mind reeling novel by Louise. Surely not to be missed, read it today, you will be surprisingly happy.

A Mother’s Betrayal is a gripping look at the secrets that all come out when the Mum is in a coma. It shakes the family to its core. It’s a passionate read that packs a punch as you get to know the characters and really feel for them as the plot progresses. Louise is fantastic at drawing you in and creating beautiful characters who help drive the plot of her story.

Adult twins Ari & Flo are left putting together a puzzle with a lot of missing pieces when new information about mother, who was recently in a car accident and is in a coma, is revealed and points to her leading a double life, with a second partner and everything. The reveal is slow but juicy and each new piece of information leads readers in a whole new direction when predicting what actually happened. It is definitely one that will keep you on your toes!

This book was really good. It gave me a few Liane Moriarty vibes, firstly because it is set in Australia, but also because of the storyline that gives a very small amount of information away at a time, leading to a suspense that you really have to think about without the scary/thriller feeling. I did find that once the big action/climax hit there was a lot of falling action and it felt like it could have been wrapped up a bit quicker, but it wasn't excessive and it held my interest enough to finish the book. The ideas of being in secret intelligence and also using psychology to try to change someone's outcomes in life (job prospects, relationships etc.) was very interesting and a little creepy to think about too. There was also some interesting content on rare blood types and a bit of a medical mystery so that hooked me too. This one ended up being a 4 star for me!

Thanks to @rachelsrandomresources and @theboldbookclub for giving me the chance to read and review this book and hop on yet another great book tour!

You had me at journals

This book was wild, full of oh so many secrets.

Julia has twins Arianna and Florence. The book starts when they are 4 but then it jumps to when they are grown up and Florence has a six year old son Kayden.

They spend time at their parent's house for Julia's birthday. The girls are uncomfortable because mom is always so secretive.
If you read the description of the book you will learn that Julia gets into a car accident and goes into a coma.

While in the coma the girls start investigating because Julia was not supposed to be where she was when she got into the accident.

I really can't say much other than I felt like a ping pong ball with all the shocks and secrets revealed.

They just kept coming.

I resonated with a controlling mother all too well.
I liked the twins and I loved the little girl she was adorable. Actually both the children were.

I kept turning the pages quickly, well kindle pages, because the journal parts of the story sucked me in and kept me guessing.

I never liked Julia one bit no matter what the journals said and even when secrets came out I still didnt like her.

This book is a definate one sitting read for sure

so I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes secrets revealed, family dramas, journals, sisters, and books that keep one guessing right up till the end.

4****

Thirty-six-year-old identical twins, lawyer Arabella ‘Ari’ and nurse Florence ‘Flo’ Hudson, have a tight bond. Though far from close to their mother, neuroscientist Julia, she is still a very influential figure in their lives.

After her sixty-sixth birthday, Julia takes a flight to Canberra, and meets with a horrible accident. At the same time, Kayden, Flo’s six-year-old son, falls ill mysteriously, and the family has their hands full, stressing and caring for both patients.

It turns out that Kayden needs a rare type of blood, known as the Bombay phenotype, which presumably he inherited from his father. A transfusion of his father’s blood could save him. The trouble is that everyone thinks Kayden was born out of a one-night-stand his mother had. Only Florence knows the truth about his parentage, and she fears that revealing that truth will destroy her closest relationship.

Meanwhile, as Julia lies in a coma, a man in his sixties, Scott Cohen, shows up, claiming to be her colleague and partner. The family is torn apart, fearing their mother has been leading a double life for years. Ari and Flo read through her journals, increasingly shocked at the truth they find in its pages. Had their mother been manipulating them all these years?

The Hudson family is left floundering as one after another, lies, betrayal and deception surface, threatening to destroy them all.



The book is set in Melbourne, Australia.

Initially, the language felt a little stilted, the dialogue unnatural. At one point, the father, Mike, told Flo that it was his wedding anniversary. Shouldn’t a daughter have known that? The daughter wishes him in a lacklustre manner.

Florence’s son, Kayden, spoke like no six-year-old ever does.

In the first few chapters of the book, there was very little to move the action forward. The action moved up a gear only at the 16 percent mark when Julia meets with a horrific accident.

Julia has spent upwards of thirty years, flitting between her home in Melbourne and her workplace in Canberra, spending a week in each city. It is hard to imagine any government permitting such an arrangement, let alone for 30 years.



I found Julia as a character very annoying and unreal. It was a pain that everyone had to jump through hoops to please or accommodate her. Julia’s husband, Mike, going out of his way to mollify her every time, seemed like a douche of a man. The entire family was constantly tiptoeing around her moods. The family dynamic was weird.



While the women’s professions are talked about frequently, it is unclear what the men are doing. Mike plays golf, and is presumably retired, but what he spent his lifetime doing is unclear.

Much is made out of Julia’s work. It’s all top-secret and confidential, but the few scraps of information we are given about it makes it appear banal and boring. I got the sense that the author hadn’t thought this one through, cloaking it all in hush-hush speak to give us the impression that there’s more there than we understand.

The author seems to have no idea how age works. The daughters are 36, and their mother, at 66, is exactly 30 years older. We don’t know the age of Gigi, Julia’s mother, but assuming she was at least 20 when Julia was born, that makes her 86. But not a word is said about how she might be coping with living alone, driving around by herself etc. The news of Julia’s accident, we are told, makes her look 10 years older, but age doesn’t just manifest itself in looks.

I found both Ari and Ryan insufferable, both acting as though she has been terribly wronged. Agreed that what Flo and Kayden’s father did was wrong, but Ari is quick to forgive him, but she treats her own sister as if she were the greatest betrayer ever. Kayden's father doesn’t even have to ask Ari for her forgiveness. Perhaps she remembers her own wrongdoing against him. But when it comes to forgiving Flo, she forgets the big lie she once told and the act of wrongdoing that she herself committed.

36 year old twins Ari and Flo find out their mother has been keeping secrets when she ends up in a coma after being involved in a car accident.

This is a domestic drama which explores how lies, secrets and betrayal can affect a family. The characters were likeable - even if they made mistakes, you could understand the reasoning behind their choices, and their reactions to the drama that unfolded were realistic and believable.

The synopsis mentions that secrets are discovered when the mother’s journal is found, however the journal didn’t come into play until halfway through the book and didn’t feature as much as I expected which was a bit disappointing as I found that element of the story really interesting.

There were a few twists along the way, the earlier ones I managed to guess but not the later ones. It was a little bit repetitive in places and slower paced than the thrillers I usually read but it hooked me from the start. I enjoyed reading about the family dynamic and wanted to know the truth about the situation. Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and the author for this eARC.

Lies, secrets, betrayal … is all in Louise Guy’s latest book A Mother’s Betrayal. It had me hooked from the very beginning and had a nice twist at the end! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this latest release in exchange for my review.

I couldn't put this down! It grabs you right from the start and keeps you guessing until the end. You'll definitely want to read this one.

This is a family drama with some elements of mystery and suspense.

It follows the story of identical twins Flo and Ari and their mother, Julia. Family secrets were unraveled when Julia had an accident. I don’t want to say too much without giving the plot away.

This deals with some serious topics such as childhood illness, trauma and the consequences of manipulating children and their choices.

I didn’t know the direction the story was going but it didn’t take long to figure out Flo’s secret. It was an eye opener learning about Bombay blood and Kayden’s diagnosis.

The plot was interesting and quite the page turner as I wanted to know how the plot would unfold.

I loved all of the characters and I loved how the author portrayed them as very messy, chaotic and relatable.

If you are looking for a cozy read with some serious drama and vibes then you should consider this.

A Mother's Betrayal was an emotional read at times. There was a lot going on and many times where you could empathize with the intense emotions being experienced by the characters. This is a story of family and relationships and how fragile they can be when betrayal is present.

It was definitely a book I wanted to keep reading to see how everything would unfold.

The ending was a bit too neat for me. Though for people who like feel good endings they will enjoy it.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Well worth a read.

A tangled web of lies throws a family into chaos causing rifts. Julia, the mother, has been keeping secrets which come to light when she's in a car accident. Her twin daughters with her husband Mike, Flo and Ari are shocked. More secrets are revealed while their mom is in a coma. Can a resolution be found out of this mess??

Well written, with lots of angst and emotional turmoil, but the forgiveness and trust are built realistically.

#netgalley #AMothersBetrayal

BLOG TOUR REVIEW


Review for 'A Mother's Betrayal' by Louise Guy.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Louise Guy, Boldwood, Book And Tonic, The Bold Book Club and Rachel's Random Resources.

'A Mother's Betrayal' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Louise discusses/includes childhood illness, trauma and manipulating children.

The first thing I have got to say that if you are a fan of books by Jodi Picoult and Nicholas Sparks then I wouldn't bother reading any further because if you love them you will definitely love this stunning book that will pull at your heart strings and bring you out in tears!! This is an absolutely fantastically written book by the very talented Louise! In this emotional rollercoaster ride we meet nurse Florence (Flo) who has a 6 year old son Kayden and lawyer Arabella (Ari) Hudson who are the twin daughters of Julia Hudson. Flo and Ali are living in Melbourne while their mother lives between Melbourne with her husband Mike and Canberra due to work which is secure but also secretive. Flo is working in ER one night when a car crash victim is rushed in. The victim is Flo and Ali's mum Julia but she should be in Canberra at the time. Julia is in a critical condition with severe head injuries and a coma. Mike, Ari, Flo and their Gran Gigi take turns sitting vigil at Julia's bedside when they discover a shocking secret that will turn all their lives around. Julia may not be able to answer their questions but her 32 year old journal may be able to give the family the answers they are looking for. Will Julia survive to explain her secrets? Will Ari and Flo be able to forgive her? Will they hold strong together or fall apart? Grab your copy of this emotive, all consuming and heart aching page turner to find out for yourselves. i can promise that you will not regret it! Louise writes about so many difficult topics in just one book but doesn't just manage to discuss them in a sensitive and tactful way. I don't want to go into too many details as I don't want to give too much away but make sure you have the tissues at the ready as Louise manages to make the tears flow and emotions run high. I absolutely devoured this book in one sitting as there was just no chance I was ever going to put it down until I found out what was going to happen! This storyline is rammed with emotions, betrayal, trust, secrets, family, drama, twists and turns and so, so much more. If your have ever read one of Louise's other amazing books then you know to expect an epic storyline which will leave you with tears in your eyes and if you haven't I can promise you this will be a book that you will not be forgetting about anytime soon! One thing I will say is that I was NOT expecting THOSE TWISTS!! My jaw dropped to the floor so well done Louise, again, on managing to completely shock me as it is getting harder and harder with every book I read but you certainly managed it! Louise's evocative writing skills brings the story and characters to life around you making your heart beat faster and pulls on your heart strings. An absolutely fantastic success from an extremely talented author and I can't wait to see what she comes out with next and in the meantime I am going to get stuck in to her previous books!!

The characters are strong and realistic each with their individual and unique personalities, strengths, flaws and weaknesses. Flo and Ali are absolutely outstanding characters that Louise clearly cares about along with the rest of her characters and she ensures that you really can see, feel and hear absolutely everything they are. I was completely invested in them from the second I met them all the way until I closed the last page but they will stay with me long after. The family dynamics in this storyline are so complex and absolutely rammed with emotions that you really do make sure you have tissues at the ready and a clear schedule before picking this book up.
I was rooting for each of the characters as well as emphasising with them and had tears streaming down my eyes by the end. Louise's fantastic writing skills brings an emotive storyline to life ensuring the characters come to life and you feel everything along with them. I'm not going to say anymore about the characters as I don't want to let anything slip but Louise does a fantastic job of making realistic and strong characters that come to life in front of the readers eyes and ones that will stay with me for a very long time so a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS LOUISE!

Clear your schedules and get the tissues ready as you wont be able to put this down!! Well done Louise an yet another absolutely gorgeous emotional page turner and here's to your next success!! This is the exact reason that you are on my favourite authors club!!

Overall an addictive rollercoaster ride of emotions that will keep you turning the pages and will leave you thinking about long after you have finished.


#AMothersBetrayal @LouiseGuy #BoldwoodBooks #BoldwoodBloggers #theboldbookclub #Boldwood #BookAndTonic #RachelsRandomResources #rararesources

@LouiseGuy @BoldwoodBooks @BoldwoodBloggers @Boldwood @theboldbookclub @BookAndTonic @RachelsRandomResources @rararesources

https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?ref=bookmarks

https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__tn__=%2As-R

https://www.instagram.com/bookwormwhitlock86/

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/34299953-kirsty-bookworm86

https://mobile.twitter.com/kcmw86

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/profile/amzn1.account.AFZ2XZBSFHIHXBXGZLBQ666XVK4A?ie=UTF8&ref_=ya_mb_l_prf

This book is full of whoppers!! Whopper lies, whopper situations and new turns that I had never anticipated.
My jaw dropped when I read what Flo’s big secret was because that one clobbered me.
I thought Julie was one big liar but turns out she doesn’t hold a Candle to someone’s shes close to because that person is just a consummate liar.
This book had so many twists and turns I feel like I was traversing a narrow mountain path.
The ending was the best because the air had been cleared, no more secrets, and the main characters could get on woth it.

A Mother’s Betrayal is my first novel by Louise Guy, and it serves as a captivating introduction to her storytelling!

Twins Florence and Arabella are taken aback when their mother suffers injuries from a car accident. As their mother remains in a coma, surprising truths begin to surface…

I thoroughly enjoyed the suspense, along with the unexpected twists that kept me engaged. From the very first page, I was hooked, and I’m confident you will be as well. I will definitely be on the lookout for more novels by Louise Guy.

Grab your copy here: https://mybook.to/amothersbetrayalsocial

#boldwoodbloggers #boldbookclub #netgalley#booksofinsta #bookreviewer #lovereading #lovebooks #instabooks #instabookreviewer #bookstagram

Ari and Flo are dealing their Mother's health issue. As they await answers more snakes pop out of the can. As the twins try to get info on their mother more questions exist and as some answers see the light of day. More turmoil arises. This was a great read! As you try to sort the issues it keeps you glued to the story.

Thank you to the publisher, Louise Guy and NetGalley for the chance to read early. My review is voluntary and my own thoughts and opinions.