#NetGalley #Keep You Safe #Bookouture

Natalie is wrongly imprisoned for embezzlement, blood tests also reveal she is addicted to pain meds. Natalie doesn't understand any of this because she doesn't do drugs and has no memory of committing the crimes that she is accused of. She has been a bit out of sorts lately but she figures that is due to the stress of being a new mother. She ends up in prison and she starts to realize it must have been her husband Tom that set her up and had also been drugging her. All she can think of is getting her son Harry back when she gets out of prison. The story is told in the past and present day. When she gets out of prison she turns to her old friend Sasha to help her track down Tom and get her son Harry back. But can Natalie really trust Sasha? Is there anyone that she can trust? This story had some good twists and turns and I was surprised at the ending. I hope to read more by this author in the future.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author, Rona Halsall, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of Keep You Safe in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
I thought the book started with plenty of promise. I was initially hooked from the beginning. Unfortunately, I thought by the halfway mark, the storyline started to drag and became monotonous which was a shame. 2.5 stars.

This modern thriller was ok. It's about Natalie who is married and a mother to baby Harry. She is in prison serving three years for a crime her husband set her up for. All Natalie wants to do upon her release is get back her son and sets out to find him.

I was hooked from the start, great characters, I liked the authors writing style and got emotionally involved in the book. I recommend it to anyone.

In Keep You Safe by Rona Halsall, Natalie is trying to find her son, Harry. She has been in prison for years and lastly saw her son when he was just a few months old. Keeping him away is her estranged husband, Tom, and some bad people chasing her.

This story is narrated through alternating timelines. My favorite timeline was the one following Natalie’s arrest and imprisonment. I was curious about her crimes. I am always intrigued by stories set in prison so her incarceration also interested me. This prison was quite different though. It kinda sounded like an okay place, well apart from being locked down and the not so nice inmates. The present timeline follows Natalie as she searches for her son. There were quite a number of tense moments especially involving Natalie being stalked.

This was a good read and I enjoyed Rona’s writing. Having read many thrillers before, I quickly guessed the identity of the baddie hence the reveal wasn’t surprising. However, I didn’t predict their motives or a number of the other twists in the story. There were also a few chilling chapters that were narrated by a mysterious character. These were intense and I found myself looking forward to them.

Through this story, I also discovered the Isle of Man. I had never heard of this place before. Not even in passing or in a movie. It provided an interesting setting for this thriller. The Coastal location also added more tension to some of the scenes. This was an interesting, well-written thriller with a unique setting.

This book started out so well. The characters were interesting and the author kept just enough information away from me that I was compelled to read on. But as I got closer to the middle, the more monotonous the plot became and (this is my fault, not the author's) I didn't really care about the baby. I wished a little something other than trying to get back the baby would happen (a subplot), but the character was one-tracked and I got tired of following her.

In the end, I guessed the twist (although it did feel a little pulled out of nowhere), and I was so tired of the cliche'd phrases and evil laughter, I was happy to be done with the book (I skimmed over most of the climax).

Note -- original title GUILTY LITTLE SECRETS

Natalie is put in prison for embezzlement, though she claims that she is innocent. She's also found to be a drug addict, hooked on OxyContin. Through various means, she comes to realize that she's been framed and the only thing in her mind is getting out and back to her infant son, Harry. Finally, she gets out of prison and heads to the Isle of Man because she has found that is where her ex husband, Tom, has taken her son. No spoilers, but she meets a guy on the ferry across to the island. In addition, there is a Polish bad guy after her because of something that happened to his sister while they were both at the same prison.

If you really loved this book -- stop here and don't read any further.

OK. I don't really like to write reviews about books I didn't enjoy. This one didn't do it for me and I almost did the unthinkable (for me, anyway) and nearly marked as DNF. I really don't care for books full of angst and with a constant stream of consciousness where the main character goes on and on ad nauseum about the same old thing. Constantly about Harry. Her lame brained ideas to go get him from his father and "rescue" him. Her actions and the many coincidences that defied my ability to suspend disbelief. I just couldn't get into the story and it was so predictable that I really could have read the first and last chapter and called it done. The narrative is told in a "then" and "NOW" fashion and although I'm not that fond of the style, it worked OK though it took forever for the gist of the whole story to be teased out. I didn't even like the main character, Natalie. The ending was contrived, and let's just leave it now.

I understand this is a debut, and though I like psychological thrillers, this whole plot line has been done to death. I would consider trying a second novel by this author in hopes to see a more original story. I thank NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book to read and review. My apologies to all for my opinions and I'm sure that others will find something different to mine to write about! If you're really picky and you like suspenseful thrillers with twists that leave you guessing and tension that makes you race through the pages, you may want to look for another book.

Keep You Safe is a clever mystery told in two time frames, moving smoothly between the present and past. The story follows Natalie who, after being released from her wrongful imprisonment after three years, is desperate to reconnect with her son. But the odds are stacked against her, as she tried to find her husband and evade another danger always in her wake.

I was gripped by this story from the start. Natalie was a compelling character, and I wanted to know more about her, her family, and her past. At the same time, the author very ably conveys a sense of mounting tension, as her search grows desperate, as she is confronted with realities that are hard to stomach. I did have some suspicions about who was behind what had gone wrong in her life and who was threatening her and her family, but they were only confirmed at the end, so it was still a truly engaging read and an impressive debut. I would happily read more by this author in the future!

This is a tense psychological thriller which had me enthralled right from the very start . I do love a story where I have trouble guessing who the perpetrator is and this is exactly what happened with this book. For a debut novel this is excellent and I can’t wait to read more from this author.

A very impressive debut psychological thriller. It is one of those books that grabs you from the first chapter and then you cannot put it down. It is written with chapters alternating between the past and the present. Natalie has lost three years of her life after being imorisoned for something she was not guilty of. After her son Harry was born she spent lots of money on impulsive purchases but never remembered doing so as she was having memory lapses. Natalie was accused of embezzling over a million pounds from one of her clients accounts but she has no recollection of doing this. After being released from prison the main thing on her mind is to find Harry. He was a baby when she was arrested and her ex husband Tom has taken him away to the Isle of Man to live. Natalie travels there to try and find her son but unbeknown to her she is being followed by someone determined to stop all the lies and secrets being revealed. This is a fast paced and gripping book and I am looking froward to reading more from Rona Hansall.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book
This was a cracking good thriller that had really good characters and setting with face paced plot

Thank you Bookouture & NetGalley for the advanced copy of this read, all opinions are my own.

This was an absolutely terrific summer read - fast paced, mysterious and twisting, I completely devoured this, with a focused determination to see how this would all play out.

Synopsis: Moving back and forth between present day and the three years Natalie spent in prison for a crime she didn't commit, Natalie is in a race against time to get her son back before any harm can befall him - no matter what the cost.

I was hooked from the go with this one - despite the murky nature of the mysterious threat against Natalie's son, and the apparent disinterest in anyone else taking her concerns seriously, I was still fully invested in seeing how the events would play out for her. I loved how the story moved back and forth so the reader slowly starts to understand the reality of Natalie's time leading up to being charged and then her sentence in prison, and all the characters that ultimately end up shaping her new world. I could have read an entire book based on her story of being inside to be honest, the characters were so wild and complex - I was only sorry there wasn't more to this side of the story.

The twists to this one were completely fun to read - even when I felt like I knew what was coming, I still didn't get bored, because I wanted to see just how twisted things would get - and I was NOT disappointed.

This book makes for the perfect quick read - it was exactly what I needed to refresh myself as a reader and get ready for more twisting dark mysteries this fall. Grab a copy of this one, and enjoy!

Natalie thought she had found happiness with Tom,her husband, especially when she had Harry. However after his birth she began to have lapses of memory. She seemed to be buying expensive items but had no recollection of doing so. Chunks of time seemed missing.She didn't really feel ready to go back to work but did so after pressure from her husband as it was their investment firm & he didn't want to spend out on anyone else.

Her nightmare began when she was accused of stealing £12,000,000 from a client- although she knew nothing about it! When she was found guilty & imprisoned. She longed for her baby, but Tom refused to let her see him. The only thing that keeps her going is the thought of getting Harry back.

The story switches from the present when Natalie is out of jail & accounts of what she went through in prison.

Poor Natalie- you had to feel for her as she had been dealt such a bad hand! I kept hoping she would win through & pushed aside any thoughts that her actions were a bit far-fetched! This was a good read. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this.

I really enjoyed this book, I love a good psychological thriller and this one had some great characters. The setting was great and I loved the author's writing style and the pace in the book.

I really felt for Natalie when the book started and having a young daughter it was certainly pulling on my heart strings and I was gripped to the story as the book progressed. I enjoyed the plot and I thought the ending was very good too - I don't want to say too much and give away a spoiler but it did have a few plot twists that I didn't see coming, and other bits I will admit I had guessed what was going to happen but that didn't stop the story being an enjoyable one for me!

4 stars from me for this one - it a very impressive debut psychological thriller and I am really looking forward to reading her next book now!!

This book was an enjoyable read. It had enough mystery and suspense to hold the readers attention. This is a book that I would recommend to others.

Keep You Safe is Rona Halsall’s debut novel, wow, I thought this was written by someone with several books under their belt already! I started this book one evening and I was completely hooked, I would have finished it that night if I didn’t have that pesky little thing called work in the morning.

Natalie is a new Mum, back at work after her maternity leave when the police come knocking at her door. She is arrested for embezzling money from one of her clients but she is adamant she did not commit the crime, how could she when she can’t remember? Natalie is convinced by her solicitor to plead guilty and is sentenced to three years in prison. The book flits between the past which is Natalie’s story through prison life and the present when she’s released and on the hunt for her son and husband.

I loved this book, I loved the way Rona wrote it with alternating chapters between the past and the present. The pace is fast throughout and you’ll be turning the pages quicker the deeper into the book you go. I loved the past story line, Rona’s writing made me anxious and on edge and I felt I was right there with Natalie experiencing prison life for the first time.

The setting of the Isle of Man in the present plot line is brilliant, I’ve not been before but with Rona’s descriptions I felt I had been. It’s clear that Rona knows the island well and I loved my journey to the island with Natalie.

The tension throughout will keep you on the edge of your seat, glancing over your shoulder. I loved the character of Natalie, she was well-written and I was really rooting for her to find her son and be back with him.

The only slight niggle I had with this book which is why it’s a 4 star rather than a 5 star is that it was slightly predictable. I did figure it all out towards the end however as I was so hooked to the book and Rona’s writing it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book too much!

Keep You Safe is a gripping, captivating, enthralling book that will have you turning the pages late into the night. It’s well-written with some characters I really got to feel for. Full of twists, turns, suspense and tension, all in a wonderful setting I’ve not read about before. I’m excited to discover what Rona will write next!

Heart pounding and exciting. This book will have you feverishly reading as you rush to find out what's going on and when you think that you do have it figured out think again because Rona Halsall has yanked the rug out from under you. Absolutely pick this up if you like well told thrillers. Happy reading!

Natalie hasn’t seen her son since he was a baby. She got sent to prison for embezzling money from one of her clients, only this is, she doesn’t remember doing it. In fact she doesn’t remember doing a lot of things in the month before it happened. Nobody believes her and she spends three long years in prison. Prison changes Natalie, especially when she meets a charismatic prisoner called Katya which she doesn’t realise until it’s too late that she puts her son’s life at risk…

So, Keep You Safe is Rona Halsall debut novel, set for the majority of novel in the Isle of Man with a little cameo for The Wirral (which is the other side of the River Mersey from me in Liverpool). We go backwards and forwards in time, between now when Natalie is trying to save her son and her time spent in prison.

Natalie’s paranoia and worry for her son came across so well, that it had me looking over my shoulder! Once or twice I went to check on my son to which he told me to stop acting weird.

I really felt sorry for Natalie, she was a new mum, struggling to cope when she’s arrested. Her family, including her mum and her husband turn her back on her, with access to her son denied she feels so alone. I really liked the fact that instead of prison breaking her, Natalie comes out stronger, although a lot more paranoid than she used to be.
There is so much more to the story but for fear of spoilers I’m not going to write any more, although I have to be honest I did see the twist coming but I enjoyed watching the characters work it out for themselves.

Overall a fast paced, well written debut and I’m looking forward to reading more from Rona Halsall.

**4 Goodreads Stars**

Natasha finds herself in a world of trouble in Rona Halsall's Keep You Safe (formerly titled Guilty Little Secrets) with few friends or family to help her out. Her picture-perfect life of comfort, wealth, and new motherhood is ripped away from her when the police arrest her for embezzling. Taken complete off-guard, she is confused and destitute, her only potential help a solicitor (lawyer for American readers) who seems disinterested in Natasha's case and doubtful of Natasha's innocence.

Natasha is encouraged to plead guilty to the crime to lessen her sentence so that she can get out in 2 years to see her son. Seeing no hope, she does it. She is immediately sentenced to prison for 3 years. When incarcerated, the prison doctor discovers she has opioids in her system. She has no recollection of ever taking them and believes her husband, a businessman who comes from old money, was drugging her. Her husband immediately files for a divorce from her, leading Natasha to believe that he may have been involved in both shady business practices that went unnoticed by her and an affair. He never writes or visits her in prison, leaving her to sort out the truth alone in prison - so far away from her baby son and the life she once knew.

The story seesaws between the past and present. The current timeline picks up with Natasha's unexpected early release from prison due to overcrowding. She is on the hunt for her husband in the hopes of finding her son. She gets in touch with an old friend, Sasha, who Natasha hopes will help her find her baby boy. We also hear the voice of an unknown predator, someone who is following Natasha's every move with malicious intent. Is it Natasha's ex-husband or someone associated with her prison time?

The story unfolds methodically. It's clear the author took great care in writing the story, pacing it so that only certain parts of the story were revealed to the reader as to avoid spoiling the mystery. It was fun to guess what may be going on. Is Natasha a reliable narrator? Is she telling the reader the truth? And who is this person stalking her? What parts of the story has Natasha left out? Why, for instance, hasn't her friend Sasha regularly visited her in prison? Why does Natasha's mother despise her so much that she, too, refuses to visit her in jail and doubts her daughter's innocence?

What also drew me into this story was the author's writing. She writes beautifully composed sentences that paint a vivid picture of what is going on in the characters' heads and what their surroundings look like. Here's one example of Halsall's writing:

"My first clenches around the phone, my patience a thin veneer."

Halsall takes the most ordinary, mundane parts of life and makes them come to life with her prose. That's what kept me turning the pages on top of wanting to know what was happening with Natasha.

Thank you to the author, Rona Halsall, the publisher, Bookouture, and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this thrilling book!

Wow!!! Absolutely fabulous debut book by this Author. The story gripped me from the start and didn't let go until the last page.