This was a fascinating story. Very devious and compelling. Some well described characters and a great conclusion.

When Julia Fouquet gets a job as a private chef for charismatic Erica Drake and her family, it feels like Christmas has come. But all is not as it seems.

Wealthy as Erica is, she is erratic and too often unpleasant, in between moments of fawning graciousness. It is all very confusing, and Julia is unsure as to what it means.

What she is fairly certain of though, is that it will not throw her off her original objectives in taking the job - tips are something that neither Erica nor her family have any idea about...

An entertaining psychological thriller, this book will keep readers attention occupied throughout. It gets 3. 5 stars.

I enjoyed this book but I felt like it read like a YA book, as the characters and a lot of the events were just over the top. The story centers on Julia, who moves from France to Malibu, CA to be a private chef for a Hollywood power couple. Once she arrives, things immediately aren't as she expected and she gets pulled deeply into family dynamics. The chapters alternate from Julia's POV as well as that of Erica. Julia's employer.

The pacing of the book was really quick, with lots of twists (some predictable and some not). I felt like the characters changed their opinions frequently and both over- and under-reacted to various triggers, hence my "over the top" comment above. The characters weren't super believable and I had to suspend my disbelief at some of the things that occurred, but I did greatly enjoy the pacing of the book and the fact that it was fraught with tension throughout. I liked the ending, though there were a couple conclusions that I came to where I wasn't sure if the characters had gotten there or not. I did like all the recipes and references to delicious food!

Overall, interesting read but not a super realistic one. This would be a fantastic beach read. I give it 3.5 stars, rounded up. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My first book by this author, and geez....I wish I had discovered her sooner. I could not put this book down, and literally finished in 1 day. It was an amazing wild Rollercoaster ride!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of ths book.

I loved the book. Kept me wanting to read more. Lots of twists and turns, some predictable but some not. But predictability did not spoil the enjoyment of the read.

This sort of book is right up my street and loved every single page of this book and honestly i didnt want it to end.

The Lucky Widow was my first Samantha Verant book - and I love this just as much! Fast paced, engaging, and fun!

This was a fantastic thriller. Twists, suspense, tension. The mystery was riveting. I loved the two point of views; they helped ramp up the tension and suspense. Right away I was hooked with how odd this situation was and things only increased which had me on the edge of my seat.

Wow! What a book. I loved the unique plot and the characters. At first glance it seems very clear what’s going on. As the story goes on, you start wondering who’s lying and who’s hiding what? I really enjoyed getting Erica and Julia’s points of view. I loved Erica’s character. The deviousness in this book kept me hooked. My only complaint was that some parts felt dragged out. If some of the middle was sped up and the ending was cut down it would have been perfect. The very end made the book. I can’t wait to read more by this author.

3.5 stars, rounded up.

Julia thinks she’s found her dream job working as a private chef for two of Hollywood’s biggest stars. It’s a chance to return to the land of her birth and work toward opening her own restaurant. But there’s something weird about her new bosses. Their strange behavior sets her on edge immediately. But Julia also has secrets, and she’ll do anything to keep them safe.

The book is told from alternating POVs: Julia’s and Erica’s, the actress Julia works for. Very occasionally David, Erica’s husband, and Julia’s other boss, narrates a chapter.

This book definitely ranks high when it comes to tension and suspense right from the beginning- which really had me hooked, trying to put pieces together. The story starts ramping up pretty quickly, so there’s not really any lag time waiting to dig into the story, which is great.

But my only complaint is that the twists are fairly obvious as the story develops. There are some pretty major hints dropped throughout the book. I mean, there’s some storylines that kind of try to muddy the water a little bit, but the author doesn’t really go anywhere with them and sticks with the more obvious twists we’ve seen before.

I mean, I still read until the end to see exactly what happened, but it did, in fact turn out the way I thought it would.

So, it’s not that I didn’t like the book, it’s that it doesn’t exactly deliver on its promise to blow your mind with a shocking twist.

Oh boy, this book. I so went back and forth so much. Everything in this was so over the top, but almost like a guilty-pleasure type of a juicy almost-thriller. You know when you're watching a ridiculous reality TV show where it's so bad, that you wonder how the heck the show got picked up? This was the book.

I rolled my eyes a few times and definitely cringed a good amount - because the writing was so cheesy and ridiculous. I kept reading it, though, because there were a few random moments where the writing shifted and it was getting better. But then something would happen or a character would say something - then I'm pulled right back to remind me that wow - this was so ridiculously over the top. It felt like anytime a character would react to something - nothing was built up well enough for them to go from 0 to 100 within two sentences, I kept thinking every single character was so vapid and so dramatic that the story just became absurd instead of a fun thriller. It wanted to be a great puzzle of a thriller but it became about annoying characters that I didn't care about.

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for an eARC of the book. All opinions are my own.

This is the first book I have read of Samantha Vérant's and I thoroughly enjoyed it. While it started off slow, I'm glad I stuck it out. I enjoyed the cooking aspects of the story and the twist left me gobsmacked. Would recommend to fans of Freida McFadden's "The Housemaid Series" and anyone else who enjoys domestic thrillers that get the blood pumping. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you Storm Publishing & NetGalley for the ARC.

The Private Chef is a great read with multiple twists that will keep you wondering what is going on. I really enjoyed this read. It is a slow build that increases intensity with each chapter. If you enjoy mysteries, filled with twists and a dash of revenge then this book is for you! This is the first book I've read from this author and I can't wait to read more!

Julia Fouquet attains her aspiration of becoming a private chef for the affluent Drake family in Malibu. However, her initial enthusiasm diminishes as she grapples with the erratic temperament of her employer, Erica Drake. Erica's volatile mood swings and excessive drinking cultivate a strained atmosphere, prompting Julia to reassess her choice to work in their opulent seaside residence. As hidden truths within the family begin to emerge, Julia finds herself navigating her own concealed motives while striving to maintain her poise in a highly pressurized environment.
The narrative is rife with intrigue, deceit, and unforeseen developments, ensuring that readers remain engrossed throughout the unfolding drama. Samantha Verant adeptly crafts the characters, offering a compelling dual perspective that enriches the storyline. While reading, I did perceive a decrease in pacing toward the conclusion, with many superfluous details that detracted from the storyline. However, overall, I appreciated the thrilling elements and character dynamics, and it was a captivating read.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Storm Publishing via NetGalley.

In this book, readers are transported to the sunny, exclusive world of Malibu where Julia Fouquet begins her dream job as a private chef for the wealthy and enigmatic Drake family. What starts as a coveted opportunity quickly spirals into a tense, unpredictable environment, thanks to Erica Drake, whose mercurial moods and wine-soaked mornings unsettle Julia from the start. But beneath the veneer of the Drakes’ picture-perfect lifestyle, dark secrets simmer, and Julia must tread carefully to protect her hidden motives.

While the premise promises a deliciously twisted tale of ambition and betrayal, the execution falls short. The story, while layered with potential for suspense and intrigue, often feels overly complex and disjointed. The characters lack depth, with many coming across as frustratingly obnoxious or irrational. Erica’s erratic behavior, instead of being intriguing, can feel exaggerated to the point of disbelief.

The plot twists, though plentiful, fail to deliver the shock value they seem to aim for, feeling predictable and uninspired. The pacing drags at times, making it hard for readers to stay invested, and the narrative’s lack of cohesion can lead to confusion, prompting a need to backtrack through the pages. The ending, anticipated as a grand reveal, disappoints with its predictability and lack of surprise.

I will admit “The Private Chef” by Samantha Verant started off slow for me and I was not sure where it was headed, but I am very glad I stuck with it! If you have not read Samantha Verant before, I highly recommend you do! The Private Chef is a story of revenge, deception and trying to right the wrongs of the past. It is very twisty, and I enjoyed this solid 4 star read! I will be adding The Lucky Widow to my TBR list as well! Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Julia thinks she’s landed the perfect job, as a private chef for a wealthy Hollywood actress and her family. But life imitates art In The Private Chef (and this one’s a twisty one!)

Things are not at all what they seem, and we soon learn the marriage is in shambles, and everybody has secrets.

Verant kept me guessing until the very end! Ive already recommended this one to a handful of friends - don’t miss out!

Chef Julia is hired by famous American film-world couple Erica and David Drake to cook for them in their luxurious home on the island of Malibu but all 3 have their own secret agendas and just when you think you know what's going on, everything changes. Full of twists and unreliable narrators, this thriller kept me guessing right up to the final chapter.

A great read which I thoroughly enjoyed. It was fast-paced and interesting. I enjoyed the cooking aspect of this story as well as he relationships side. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

In this book, Julia lands her dream job cooking for the glamorous Drake family in Malibu, but it quickly turns dark. With her erratic employer and family secrets unraveling, Julia must keep her own hidden agenda under wraps. Suspenseful and full of drama, it’s a captivating tale of secrets simmering beneath the surface.

Would recommend. Thank you to Samantha Vérant, NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of this book