Jersey Girl Book Reviews: April 2022

Saturday, April 30, 2022

Weekly Book Mail: 4/24-30/2022

This Week's Book Mail

April - The Ripped Bodice Book Box

May - Literati Book Club

May - Fresh Fiction Book Box

April - Just The Right Book!

Friday, April 29, 2022

Distorted Perception by Trish Arrowsmith (VBT: Book Review / Contest Giveaway)

In association with Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours, Jersey Girl Book Reviews is pleased to host the virtual book tour event for Distorted Perception by author Trish Arrowsmith!

Book Review

Distorted Perception by Trish Arrowsmith

Publisher: Independent Author Publisher

Publication Date: February 21, 2022

Format: Paperback - 276 pages

Kindle - 1164 KB / 278 pages

ISBN: 978-1736755945
ASIN: B09RT21MK9
Genre: Domestic Suspense / Thriller

Buy The Book:

Amazon (Free On Kindle Unlimited)

Goodreads

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours.

Book Description:

At twenty-six years of age, Kathleen has almost everything she needs: a fulfilling teaching career, a new car, and a recently purchased home. She dedicates her free time to her students, supporting them in a manner she never had growing up. Her days are filled with love and hope, but her nights are empty without a family to call her own. While spectating the first home baseball game of the season, she meets a man that she believes will change her evenings in the best possible way. With no children of his own, he committed his free time to bringing his young nephew to watch the game, hoping to encourage him to play. Kathleen is immediately drawn to him and sees him as a true family man.

Maxwell is handsome, successful, and charming. When he proposes marriage shortly after they begin dating, Kathleen is eager to accept as the desire to start her own family consumes her. Within months of their marriage, Maxwell’s sweet, doting personality gives way to a more sinister, controlling side. Kathleen quickly realizes that while she was looking for a partner, Maxwell was looking for someone who existed solely to fulfill his needs.

When he suggests a move to the country, Kathleen is hesitant to leave her job but believes the change of atmosphere will be an opportunity to bring them closer together. She soon realizes the isolation of the countryside only serves to enhance his power over her. It doesn’t take long for her to learn the devastating truth of who her husband really is, and she finds herself left with two choices: She can try to escape and hope he doesn’t find her, or she can stay and fight the battle in which all odds are against her.

Book Excerpt:

He reached out and grabbed her hand like he used to when they were dating. “We’re moving. Next week.”

“What?” Kathleen cried. “What do you mean we’re moving?” She pulled her hand from his.

“We’re moving to the country. I bought us a house out there.”

Kathleen went from being the happiest she had been in a long time to livid in a matter of seconds. Her whole body begin to shake. “We can’t move next week, Maxwell. I own this house. I’ll need to clean it and put it up for sale. It could take months.”

“Already taken care of, beautiful. You don’t need to worry about a thing.”

She cringed at his choice of the word ‘beautiful.’ “It’s going to take me weeks just to pack everything.” She sounded like she was whining but she didn’t care, this was a huge decision he made for both of them without consulting her. He had never even mentioned a desire to move, and certainly not to the country. She had never been outside the suburbs of the city. She was already feeling lonely and now she would really be by herself.

“No need to worry. I hired movers. They’ll be here Tuesday.”

“Tuesday? Like five days from now?”

Maxwell laughed. “Well, yes. What did you think I meant when I said next week?” He continued eating his dinner like this was a normal conversation they would have on any given day.

Kathleen had lost her appetite. She slid her plate away from her and shook her head. She was upset that she hadn’t gotten to tell Maxwell her news. She wanted to make it a joyous occasion for them both and it had completely lost its appeal. At least for now. She got up and left the table without eating any more. She needed some time away to process what he told her.

She stood in the bathroom for five minutes fighting back tears before she went to stand in the doorway of the kitchen. She leaned against the frame with her arms crossed. “What do you mean it’s already taken care of? Did you sell my house? How is that even possible?”

Maxwell’s eyes rolled toward the ceiling. After all this time she still didn’t seem to get it. Her naivety both humored and annoyed him. “You seem to forget rather easily that I’m a lawyer. There are so many things that I can do, so many things that I have access to, it would make your head spin. And yes, to answer your question, I did sell it. Got a pretty penny for it, too.” He smirked at her. “Did you make any dessert?”

Kathleen was furious that he had managed to sell her house without her knowing about it. She was sure his job gave him access to information like that, but it didn’t mean he had to abuse the privilege. How did he even know she bought the house outright, maybe she had inherited it from her grandmother or bought it from someone else in her family? She didn’t, of course, and she guessed he had access to that information as well, but this was the first house she had ever owned. She was proud of her little house. And considering it was hers, she would have liked to have some say in selling it. She decided now was not the time to ask him for specific details, but eventually she wanted to know why he sold it and how much he got for it.

She dropped a plate with a slice of Boston crème cake in front of him. The fork rattled and bounced from the plate to the table. Kathleen crossed her arms over her chest again and stared at him. “I know you have access to a lot of information but how did you manage to sell my house without my consent?”

Maxwell straightened his posture, he pulled back his shoulders, puffed up his chest, and smiled so wide it made Kathleen want to slap it off his face. “As a lawyer, I should advise you to read all forms and documents thoroughly before you sign them.”

Kathleen squinted and shook her head. “But I never…”

Maxwell howled with laughter as he watched the realization hit her.

Her mouth hung open and she sighed with shame. “Our wedding day.” Her arms dropped to her sides; her head fell forward.

He nodded his head and shoved a fork full of cake into his mouth. “What’s yours’ is mine.”

***

My Book Review:

In Distorted Perception, author Trish Arrowsmith weaves a riveting domestic suspense thriller that will captivate the reader's attention from beginning to end.

The reader follows the story of Kathleen, a twenty-six year old teacher who met Maxwell Lewis, a lawyer at a local youth baseball game. She was so taken in by his charm and blinded by love, that she didn't realize that the short whirlwind romance would lead to a marriage to a man who would completely manipulate and take control of her life.

Distorted Perception is a slow-building, multi-layered, gripping, and complex story that has a great mixture of intrigue, secrets, deceit, manipulation, dark pasts, suspenseful twists and turns, and enough tension and drama that will keep the reader thoroughly engaged and riveted until the surprising conclusion.

You can't help but feel the full gamut of emotions as you follow Kathleen's heartwrenching story of domestic violence. As you turn the pages of this very harrowing and dark story, the intensity of the story grows until the unexpected surprise ending that will simply leave you stunned and at a loss for words.

RATING: 5 STARS

About The Author

Author Trish Arrowsmith recently moved across the country where she found her forever home, enjoying the desert sunshine and wildlife all year long. She was born and raised in a small town in northern Connecticut. Growing up, she was always fascinated by unsolved mysteries and true crime as well as the psychological elements behind them. As an avid reader, her go to books are thrillers, suspense, and true crime.

Contest Giveaway

This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Trish Arrowsmith. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

Virtual Book Tour

Distorted Perception by Trish Arrowsmith ~ VBT Event Page Link

Tour Participants:

03/28 Review @ Book Reviews From an Avid Reader

03/29 Guest post @ The Book Divas Reads

03/30 Interview @ I Read What You Write

03/31 Showcase @ The Suspense is Thrilling Me

04/01 Review @ Pages and Pups

04/02 Showcase @ Books Blog

04/04 Guest post @ pages_and_pups

04/05 Showcase @ Books, Ramblings, and Tea

04/08 Guest post @ Quiet Fury Books

04/08 Showcase @ Geauxgetlit

04/08 Showcase @ nanasbookreviews

04/14 Review @ Instagram -@ mokwip8991

04/15 Review @ The World As I See It

04/16 Showcase @ Nesies Place

04/17 Review @ Margaret Yelton

04/18 Guest post @ Novels Alive

04/20 Review @ Pat Fayo Reviews

04/23 Review @ Blogging With A

04/25 Review @ Lynchburg Reads

04/26 Showcase @ Celticladys Reviews

04/27 Review @ A Room Without Books is Empty

04/27 Review @ flightnurse70_book_reviews

04/28 Guest post @ Author Elena Taylors Blog

04/29 Review @ Jersey Girl Book Reviews

Monday, April 25, 2022

Not Your Child by Lis Angus (VBT: Book Review / Contest Giveaway)

In association with Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours, Jersey Girl Book Reviews is pleased to host the virtual book tour event for Not Your Child by author Lis Angus!

Book Review

Not Your Child by Lis Angus

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Publication Date: April 18, 2022

Format: Paperback - 322 pages

Kindle - 2065 KB / 286 pages

Nook - 600 KB

ISBN: 978-1509241187
ASIN: B09QRST379
BNID: 2940160797465

Genre: Suspense / Thriller

Buy The Book:

Amazon

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours.

Book Description:

When Ottawa psychologist and single mother Susan Koss discovers that a strange man has been following her twelve-year-old daughter Maddy, she fears he’s a predator. But it’s worse than that. The man, Daniel Kazan, believes Maddy is his granddaughter, abducted as a baby, and he’s obsessed with getting her back.

Susan insists on a DNA test to disprove Daniel’s claim, but the result is one she can’t understand or explain: it says she’s not Maddy’s mother.

Then Maddy vanishes. Susan’s convinced Daniel has taken her, but he has an alibi, and two searches of his house turn up nothing. The hunt is on—police are on full mobilization, and Susan fears the worst.

Book Excerpt:

As I was putting on my coat, the doorbell rang. I looked out the window.

What the hell?

Daniel Kazan stood on my doorstep.

I went cold. How dare he? I flung open the door. “What are you doing here?” I exploded.

Confronting him, I saw that he was a few inches taller than me, and exuded a tense energy that raised my hackles. He raised his hands, palms out, a placating expression on his face. As if he were trying to calm me down or reassure me.

“I just want to talk to Hannah. I came early to catch her, before she leaves for school.”

I squared my shoulders. “Get out of here! You've been told to stay away from us!”

His face was in shadow. “I think it’s fair to want to see Hannah. I’ve waited a long time.”

The guy is nuts. “She’s not Hannah—she’s my daughter. Maddy.”

“You’re keeping her from me.” He was leaning toward me, and I had to keep from falling back. I couldn’t let myself seem weak. If he thought he’d intimidated me, what would be his next move?

My heart pounded. My hands were curled tight, my nails biting into my palms. “Damn right I’m keeping her from you. Now get off my porch before I call the police!”

What if he wouldn’t leave? I should call for help—but my phone was inside, and I didn’t want to leave him on the porch unattended.

***

Book Trailer:

My Book Review:

In Not Your Child, author Lis Angus weaves a riveting suspense thriller that easily draws the reader in following single mother Susan Koss as she deals with a mother's worst fear: a man claiming that her twelve year old daughter Maddy is his long-lost granddaughter, and her determination to prove him wrong.

Set in Ottowa, Canada, and told in alternating first person narrative by Susan and the third person narratives by Maddy and Daniel Kazan, the reader follows this harrowing tale as Susan is determined to prove that she is Maddy's mother, while Maddy deals with the confusion that surrounds Daniel's claim that she is his long-lost grandaughter.

This captivating tale is rich in detail and vivid descriptions, has intriguing and suspenseful twists and turns, that will have the reader experiencing the full gamut of emotions, with no other option than to keep turning the pages to find out what happens next.

As a diehard fan of suspense thrillers, I must admit that this story exceeded my expectations. The dark intensity of the storyline and the complexity of Susan, Maddy and Daniel's story kept me thoroughly riveted, engrossed, and guessing as the pieces to the puzzle come together.

With a complex and realistic cast of characters, the author does a phenomenal job of delving into the tangled web of Susan's undying mother's love and Daniel's obsessive quest to find the grandaughter he lost eleven years ago. The author transports the reader into this fast-paced white-knuckle storyline with her creative interweaving of a psychological cat-n-mouse game between the characters that leaves the reader's heart palpitating until the surprise ending leaves them emotionally spent. It just doesn't get any better than this!

Not Your Child is one heck of an adrenaline rush that is a must-read for the true diehard suspense thriller junkie!

RATING: 5 STARS

About The Author

Lis Angus is a Canadian suspense writer. Early in her career, she worked with children and families in crisis; later she worked as a policy advisor, business writer and editor while raising two daughters. She now lives south of Ottawa with her husband.