3.75 stars?

This book was pretty good. It was an intensely dramatic and fast-paced read; I’m not sure why it took me so long to finish other than that I was having trouble focusing in general for a while. It wasn’t exactly what I was expecting at first, and although I had figured out the identity of the protagonist, there were a few final twists that were unexpected. I felt like one of the dramatic scenes toward the conclusion was unrealistic…the character who helped during the fire was an interesting turn of events, but I just didn’t quite believe it; I felt like she would’ve been more likely to do the opposite, but maybe I’m too cynical sometimes. Anyway, overall, this was a pretty good one, and for the most part, I enjoyed it.

I enjoyed this title! It's been a HUGE hit at my library! I look forward to reading more from this author!

The Engagement by Samantha Hayes was another excellent book, it had great twists and turns throughout which made it a great page turner. I was gripped from the beginning till the end and ended up reading it in one sitting. So glad I did not have anything planned the next day. The ending was WoW didn't see that coming. Samantha's books are just excellent and always a 5 star read from me.

I highly recommend this book and all her other books.

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.

When Hannah’s daughter Belle returns from a month long trip in France she is thrilled. It’s Belles 18th birthday, but she returns with some news. Belle is engaged to a man older than her. Worst of all Hannah has a connection to him, but she doesn’t want her secrets exposed. What length does a mother go to in order to protect her daughter?

I liked the concept of this book but honestly I just don’t think this one was for me. I don’t want to spoil anything, but there is one specific plot point that I think is being used a lot right now and I just don’t love it. I did like the initial twist although I called it from the beginning. The second twist was the one I was surprised about! I do think this is a fast and easy read. Overall I rate this one a 2.5/5

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Have you ever read a book that really surprised you in the best possible way? Well that was this book for me. It had all the elements I could ask for in a novel.

I don't think I've read a book where the cover and the text did not match up at all. Such a pretty cover that reminds me so much of so many of the thrillers I have enjoyed over the years. Inside, however, is a gritty tale of stolen identities, sex workers, evil manipulation of women and the desire to free oneself from that manipulation. As repulsed as I am at the overall situation our characters were placed in, at the heart is the story of a mother just trying to overcome her own past and protect her daughter from repeating it. In that I found a lovely story that I was compelled to keep reading. Thank you to Netgalley/Bookouture for the advanced copy of the second book I've read from Samantha Hayes. I look forward to the next one!

I’ve read quite a few books by Samantha Hayes and they are absolutely brilliant. This one is the best so far though, I was just completely gripped by it.

We find out quite early on in the story who Jack is, and it’s almost a slow-motion, waiting for the inevitable crash to happen feeling that completely ramps up the tension and had me totally consumed in the story and unable to put it down.

Knowing the danger that Belle is in makes the suspense even more unbearable and as the pace picks up it’s genuinely heart-pounding stuff.

The plot is very clever and drew me in completely to a world that is shocking and dark.

The ending is very dramatic and fast-paced and just finishes off this very thrilling book perfectly.

If you like exciting and jaw-dropping thrillers this is one of the best. Very original, completely consuming and addictive, this one will have you reading late into the night. Cancel everything and read it.

This was a super twisty mystery that sucked me in. I had no idea what was going on but I wanted to keep reading. There are a lot of characters in this one and multiple timelines and POV's but it had a good mix of likeable and unlikeable characters. A few bits of the book were a little slow but not enough to make me put the book down.

Well paced, good research and good characters but for some reason it didn’t grip me at all.

I felt that while the story was interesting it was not quite as thrilling as I expected.

Well, this was exciting!!! It certainly got my heart racing towards the end and then we had that extra twist, just to leave us with our jaws on the floor. A great story, as ever, from this wonderful author. Who can resist that tagline? No me, that's for sure - I was hooked before I'd even started. Lots of secrets in this one to keep the reader guessing. Just my sort of book - loved it!

The Engagement
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Genre: Thriller
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 1/10/23
Author: Samantha Hayes
Publisher: Bookouture
Pages: 335
GR: 4.09

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Bookouture and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

My Thoughts: This book checks all of the boxes of a psychological thriller, it is gripping, intense, captivating, and kept me on the edge of my seat. The book is narrated in past and present tense with multiple POVs. I love the past building interweaved with the present, however, at times, some of it did not seem necessary. All of the characters are hiding something from their past and when they explode, they explode big.

The characters were well developed with depth, mystery, secretive, and very creatively built. The author’s writing style was complex, multifaceted, twisty, suspenseful, thought provoking, and kept me engaged the entire story. The author does a brilliant job at building and developing the characters, developing the plots is various twists, while some are predictable, the ending I did not see coming and it was a fantastic ending!

The author did a fantastic job in the research of sex workers, it felt authentic and draws you in. This was a gripping and captivating psychological thriller that keeps you on the edge until the very end. The plot was well written and the last twist took me by surprise. Even though it is a bit slow, you can’t help but continue to read. I do highly recommend picking up.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, what a fabulous read. I loved it. A definite page-turner, with a great ending. Recommended.

Loved this book! An easy read with likable characters, the story line had me hooked from the beginning and omg the ending!!! Never would have predicted it. The story was based around two different time lines. I’ve read books like that before and found it difficult to keep up but I had no problem following the timeline and flow of everything. There were a few parts of the book that I felt just kinda dragged on a bit, which caused me put the book down 1 week here or there. But when I picked it back up and got going again I would instantly get sucked back in. Overall, I’d give this book 4.5 stars!

I never realize the most scariest as mother when your dark past appear again in front you before read this book. The idea of this book very good and brimming with potency. Written from dual PoV Hannah and someone in past name Molly the story unravels their family secrets.

The written is okay and the plot is easy to follow. But as the stories going on I found many fillers and unnecessary additional POV being over described. Off course I want to know the background but not that much, I enjoyed more how all characters can coup with the past and move forward faster. Some additional epilogue actually isnt neccessary.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for provided my copy. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #Bookouter and Samantha Hayes for the opportunity to read an advance copy of THE ENGAGEMENT, to be published January 10, 2023. A very unique domestic thriller that involved a myriad of bends and twists, right down to the last page. It was narrated from mainly the perspective of two people (Hannah and Molly) with some additions by other points of view. The storyline was pretty fantastic and have some questions about the possibility of all of those things coming together over that period of time. People who enjoy reading this genre will probably appreciate this Novel.

This novel had me hooked from the cover and description. 18 yr old comes home from a summer away and introduces her fiance to her parents. There's an instant connection between Hannah, the mom, and the new Beau. While the idea behind this book was a good one and had ample chances to be a great, fast-paced read, it did slightly let me down. I found there was too much back and forth, between then and now, as well as too much character building. The last 100 pages had me turning so quickly and it did bring back that oomph from the start of the book

Absolutely loved this book I was hooked from the first page. Flowed well, addictive and well written I would highly recommend this book.

I was hooked from the first couple of chapters and then…WHAT? I did not anticipate the story turning in the direction it did. And as a mother, what an absolute nightmare this would be.

The Engagement by Samantha Hayes is a totally gripping, wild ride of a book that made me cringe so hard! I don’t want to spell it out for you, I want readers to be as shocked as I was. But here is a little peek…

There’s someone I want you to meet,’ Belle says, as a man draws up to her side. He’s tall with dark hair and stubble on his square jaw. He’s dressed in expensive-looking clothes – tan trousers and a fitted navy shirt. He’s not exactly smiling, but the corner of his mouth curls upwards as he slides his hand around my eighteen-year-old daughter’s waist.

I grab my husband’s arm to steady myself as my heart kicks into a thunderous gallop.

I’m frozen.

It’s as though I’m under water. The room spins around me.

I stare into his eyes – jet black. Nothing and everything hidden behind them.

Fear prickles my skin as I remember what he did.

How I only just escaped.

All the lies I’ve had to tell since.

‘I want you to meet Jack,’ Belle says, bouncing up and down with excitement. ‘He’s my fiancee.’ She rests her head on his shoulder. ‘Isn’t it exciting? We’re engaged!’

I have to stop this.

If I don’t, I’ll lose everything…

This is out now!

Awesome book, I just loved kept my interest all the way through out the book the characters were great. The book flowed well...

By far, one of the best psychological thrillers I have read in a long time. A great story with so many twists and turns. Gripping from the start, and the twist at the end.................................... WOW !!!
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this brilliant ARC