I wanted to like this book but I am really tired of the "damsel in distress" stories about rich women married to controlling husbands but too intimidated to extricate themselves. It's an overly used story line, which makes it hard to inject the requisite tension necessary to grip the reader. Further, WARM TRANSFER has so many stock characters (the misogynistic husband, the wealthy and nasty socialites) that it loses credibility. Holtz clearly has talent but it would be great if she would turn her talent to a more original story,

This book was a tough read for me due to being a victim of domestic violence in the past, I applaud Laura for writing a book of this nature. Stories like this need to be told and women need to feel that their voices can be heard. This topic does need to be discussed more. I appreciated the creation of the characters and how she kept them detailed, bold, animated and over all relatable. As a reader, I like to read books where I feel I can relate to the character and the story itself is something definitely being discussed in our social environment. Domestic violence is a serious and current women's issue that has spread through-out our country. Thank you Laura, I applaud you a million times over. The book itself was thoughtful and empowering. Tamsen is a solid main character and I enjoyed watching her develop throughout the book. Well-done for a debut novel and proceeds of the book go to RAINN, very helpful program for people in need after crisis. Thank you Smith Publishing for the e-copy arc and sending me a physical copy of the book as well.

After learning what the words, "warm transfer" mean, I love the title of this book! Self discovery for a woman who leaves her successful career to raise her children and give them the best life she can. Her husband is controlling, and emotional abusive.. She hires a much younger man to teach her son the guitar and the story is about hpw she learns to take care of herself, and what the consequence are. Thanks to Net Galley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy

Warm Transfer
by Laura Holtz

4 stars for this book! really enjoyed it. thanks to the publisher and author who provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

No need to discuss the title, that has already been covered.

Set in Chicago, this novel introduces us to Tamsen Peel and her husband Victor. He is at the top of his game as an advertising executive and his success gives her the cachet to be involved with the upper strata of Chicago Society – albeit often as an unpaid worker in the form of events planning and management for charity events (known as volunteering). They have two children, a girl and a boy. Unfortunately, their son is subject to epileptic seizures and there is always a tension about his health.

Tamsen is not happy, not in her marriage which has deteriorated. Victor is abusive in his treatment of her, demeaning and humiliating her. For her part, although aware of this, she somehow seems to side line it – ‘what about the children?’ they are her focus and her worry. Except when she is absorbed in her ‘charity’ work; except when she is a silent observer of the darker nature of those elite women and their clubs and the insidious need to be part of their herd. For Tamsen, life is a constant juggle, a manipulation of what she needs to do or say to get what she needs for the children, just to keep Victor on side – or try to. Then she meets a young musician, a guitar teacher for her son and suddenly there is something else in her life.

I slowly became enthralled by Tamsen; watching her rediscover herself, her identity and ultimately becoming not just a mother or a defeated wife. I was never quite sure of her involvement with the musician, perhaps because he was younger and I was fearful for her. I was behind her all the way when she was shaving a few dollars here and there to scrabble together some ‘start over’ money.

This isn’t a romance story, it is much more life affirming than that. This is a witness statement to what life is like for some women – even those who have it all – do they?

Three cheers for Tamsen and three cheers for Laura Holtz.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.

Typical plot, not much substance.

Thanks to author,publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free, it had no bearing on the rating i gave it.