Meet Brooke the young, mysterious seemingly trophy wife. She's one to be envied according to several character perspectives. But there is more to Brooke than trophy wife antics, but the story had to certainly get into the plot to find her strong moments. Just as you think she's strong she goes weak and vice versa. As a character she was mediocre for me because she had the making to be that strong women character but saved her opportunity until the end - when it felt less believable. Still I enjoyed the character I just wanted less follow the leader from her.

Then there's her new neighbor Erin, married to Mason, a high power plastic surgeon. They seem to have it "all,' until slowly the facade begins to unravel piece by piece. Erin is beautiful, socially motivated, and career driven in her job and as a newscaster for the local news. I found her character strong, fun, and unpredictable which was a lot of fun to read her take this job and shove it adventures. As the story goes on her well developed character reveals bitterness, pettiness, and jealousy.

Then there's Georgia, described often as petite, gorgeous, stylish- and known to be the black widow. Two dead husband's, and the third fiance comes up missing.

But who did it? The story gets thick and hard to navigate who did what. And the author certainly complicates it by tying it all in at the end.

I wanted to give this story 5 stars because I loved it! But the muddled ending summed up quickly did not do it for me. Still the story was given closure and it was unexpected excitement till the end. Loved it!



I was so excited to receive the uncorrected proofs of this Kristin Miller story! Thank you Net Galley and Ballantine Books for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review

"Meet the trophy wives of Presidio Terrace, San Francisco's most exclusive - and most deadly - neighborhood in this shrewd, darkly compelling novel from the New York Times bestselling author of In Her Shadow.

Mystery writer Brooke Davies is the new wife on the block. Her tech-billionaire husband, Jack, twenty-two years her senior, whisked her to the Bay Area via private jet and purchased a modest mansion on the same day. He demands perfection, and before now, Brooke has had no problem playing the role of a doting housewife. But as she befriends other wives on the street and spends considerable time away from Jack, he worries if he doesn't control Brooke's every move, she will reveal the truth behind their "perfect" marriage.

Erin King, famed news anchor and chair of the community board, is no stranger to maintaining an image - though being married to a plastic surgeon helps. But the skyrocketing success of her career has worn her love life thin, and her professional ambitions have pushed Mason away. Quitting her job is a Hail Mary attempt at keeping him interested, to steer him away from finding a young trophy wife. But is it enough, and is Mason truly the man she thought he was?

Georgia St. Claire allegedly cashed in on the deaths of her first two husbands, earning her the nickname "Black Widow" - and the stares and whispers of her curious neighbors. Rumored to have murdered both men for their fortunes, she claims to have found true love in her third marriage, yet her mysterious, captivating allure keeps everyone guessing. Then a tragic accident forces the residents of Presidio Terrace to ask: Has Georgia struck again? And what is she really capable of doing to protect her secrets?"

Literally THE PERFECT beach read!

If ever there was a neighborhood similar to Stepford Wives with a mix of Big Little Lies, it would be Presidio Terrace. Perfect wives, seemingly perfect homes and couples with a "Black Widow " in the mix. Jack Davies moves his beautiful wife into the Presidio Terrace neighborhood looking for the best of everything. Little do they know what kind of evil is lurking around. Their neighbor, Georgia has lost two husbands already. She has been coined the "Black Widow" by the local media and she is planning her third wedding to Robert. Well, that is until Robert turns up missing days before their lavish wedding. How cursed is Georgia really? Or is she taking matters into her own hands and gathering her own little fortune?
I thoroughly enjoyed The Sinful Lives of Trophy Wives by Kristin Miller. It made for a quick read perfect for a summer afternoon and would be an awesome beach read. I will be recommending The Sinful Lives of Trophy
Wives to others and will continue to look for other works by Kristin Miller. Special Thanks to NetGalley, Kristin Miller, and Ballantine - Random House Publishing for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion. 4.5 stars

#TheSinfulLivesofTrophyWives #NetGalley

I really enjoyed this. I did not see the end coming and wasn't sure who was to blame throughout. I think it was an interesting story and something different from your usual thriller.

This was a delightful spin on the upper elite of California. I enjoyed the devilish characters and all the skeletons in their impressively well-filled closets.

Actually probably closer to a 3.5 rating.

Thanks to netgalley.com for the ARC.

This was a fun book. Murder, sex, intrigue and kept me turning the pages. I just had a difficult time with the ending being so unbelievable. The story had some interesting twists and while nothing was completely a surprise, I just couldn't come to grips with the ending. I don't think that takes away from the book, but is only my opinion.

If you like a good page turning, fun thriller - I would recommend this book.

3 stars

So I chose this book because I have a small obsession with the Real Housewives shows and this book just sounded like one of them and in some ways I was absolutely given that, but in others, I was let down a little bit. This mixed a lot of those old soap operas like One Life to Live and All My Children with the Real Housewives of Los Angeles (but set in San Fransisco). I loved the mystery elements in this story, There are 3 narrators Erin, Georgia, and Brooke, and sometimes it was difficult to keep up with which storyline was which (but that is a me thing), I honestly didn't like any of them one bit, like none of the characters, I found them all unlikable. The thing that kept me reading this book was the actual writing. It was so compelling and just made me want to keep going so I could find out what was going on. The pacing of the book was great honestly, I flew through it and didn't feel like there were any parts that really dragged or kind of carried on for too long. The best part of this book was the ending though. The way Kristin Miller executed those twists and just made everything come together was definitely my favorite part of the book.

Thank you Netgalley and Ballantine for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Stars

Thank you NetGalley for an early copy of The Sinful Lives of Trophy Wives in exchange for an honest review.

Black Widow, Georgia St Claire is about to be married, to Robert, for the third wealthy man despite the suspicious deaths of her first two husbands. She lives in an exclusive enclave in San Francisco with her best friend and tv anchor Erin King. Their newest neighbor is Brooke Davies, a mystery writer with her own billionaire husband. The three friends are celebrating overnight on Georgia and Robert's yacht when Robert mysteriously disappears overboard. The ladies claim he was kidnapped but the authorities believe he has become the third victim of the Black Widow. As the wedding day approaches with the groom still missing the secrets of this elite neighborhood begin to unravel and may take all of the ladies down with them.

I enjoyed Kristin Miller's newest novel it is a fun light read with a twisty ending. The characters are a bit stereotypical but they are enjoyable. This would be a great beach read.

This book follows the luxurious life of Georgia, Brooke and Erin. It was full of lies, deception and wealth. If you like the show Desperate Housewives, this book is definitely for you!

Each of the women are married to uber wealthy men in an exclusive gated community in a tiny town in California. I admit, I tore through this book wanting more. Pick it up!

A highly entertaining book. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and plot. One of the most unique “neighborhood” based thrillers I have read. Highly recommend.

Luxury homes. Fancy clothes and cars. That’s the life you’d imagine the women who are considered trophy wives to live. That was the expectation I had when I began this book. Oh, was I wrong. Erin, Brooke, and Georgia have much more depth, which adds richness to the story. It has many twist and hidden curves. My jaw dropped at several points in the story. Don’t trust any of the characters. None of them are what they seem. If you’re looking for a suspenseful read, pick this up and delve into what real “trophy” wives do.

The Sinful Lives of Trophy Wives follows Georgia, Erin, and Brooke as they navigate weddings, careers, and life in the exclusive Presidio Terrace neighborhood in California.

I sped through this book. It's basically a mix between Big Little Lies and an episode of Real Housewives. It was highly addictive just like those two shows. I was also pleasantly surprised at how entertaining it was to read because I picked it on a whim. If you're looking for a quick, entertaining drama, this one will not disappoint.

Thank you to Random House, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for the advanced copy to review.

This book was like reading the script of a soap opera that I watched in college. Think “Dallas” or “Days of our Lives” if you can remember back that far. Told in the point of view of each member of the tantalizing trio, this book became riveting quickly. Following the stories and the backstories of Brooke, Erin and Georgia, I quickly determined that I would not fit into the exclusive neighborhood in San Francisco that these ladies live in. Brooke is the new lady on the block and is just learning the ropes and all of the new rules. The rules are enforced by Erin, the president of the neighborhood committee, who is adamant that everyone follow the ridiculous rules. This is where the book almost lost me, with rules like closing the garage after five minutes. Nevertheless, I continued to read and found the book to be a fun book of discovery about the real lives behind the secret faces of Brooke, Erin and Georgia. The time is the week leading up to Georgia’s third wedding. Georgia, known as “The Black Widow” because her first two husbands mysteriously died, may or may not have been culpable for their deaths. The truth about each woman is revealed slowly, like pulling away layers of a gauze bandage to reveal the wound underneath. The plot was compelling and fast-paced with a surprise at the end that I just did not see coming. The characters were like Jackie Collins’ Hollywood types, but their own revelations showed that they were not as shallow as I expected them to be. I actually got on Team Brooke and was rooting for this newcomer to survive the marriage to her demanding spouse Jack and to be able to fit into the neighborhood and thrive there. Fans of a suspense thriller with lots of secrets revealed slowly will enjoy this book.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive book. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

THE SINFUL LIVES OF TROPHY WIVES by Kristin Miller is a twisty and fun story that kept me entertained and amused right to the end. Georgia, Erin and Brooke are three young wives married to ultra-rich and prominent men. Brooke is new to the elite Presidio Terrace community outside San Francisco and immediately gets pulled into an unlikely friendship with “best friends” Georgia and Erin. She soon learns that the lives that looks perfect on the outside may not be what as they appear. Georgia has the label “Black Widow” because her previous two husbands have died under unusual circumstances. She is now engaged again and set to be married the next weekend. Erin is a well-known news anchor married to Mason, a wealthy plastic surgeon. On the surface, Erin and Mason look like the perfect couple, but are they harboring secrets no one knows about? When Georgia’s fiancé, Robert, goes missing from their yacht the night of a pre-wedding party, suspicions arise that Georgia may be responsible. As the investigation into Robert’s whereabouts unfolds, secrets, lies and betrayals are slowly revealed. There is plenty of drama, suspense and twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. That some of the story is completely far-fetched is part of the fun of this book. I enjoyed this entertaining book. It would make the perfect beach read. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy.

This book reminded me of Desperate Housewives but with even more money and scandal. Georgia St Clair is a rumored “black widow” with two husbands who died under possibly mysterious circumstances. Brooke, on the surface is a stereotypical trophy wife. Erin is a popular morning news anchor and Georgia’s closest friend.
Despite her husband’s warnings, Brooke quickly becomes embroiled in the drama of Georgia and Erin’s lives, but she has secrets of her own.
This book was so twisty. I loved it. Some were obvious but the reveal at the end was just so unexpected.
I loved the plot but wished that with a title like that they got more into the luxuriousness of living with that kind of wealth. Usually when I read books about the ultra wealthy I get a lot of great descriptions of expensive things and vacations (think Kevin Kwan’s novels). So that was disappointing.
Also there wasn’t a lot of character building, especially for Brooke, for a narrator she was pretty much unknown. Like up until the end I was like does this woman feel connected to anyone or anything?
Anyway this was a fun thriller, definitely something fun to read over the summer!

This was an easy and exciting read. The mystery shrouding the ladies of Presidio Terrace makes it impossible to stop reading. The speed of development in the storyline was just right. Although, each wife did not have a full story or rather a great motive to their life. I find that in the end, Georgia's background was starting to developed but was cut short. There were a lot of unnecessary events in the story that could be replaced by background to the characters instead. The wives' lives are very interesting if they had been more developed. There are inconsistencies. Georgia's second husband's death was never discussed more than just that, he's dead. However, her first husband had a background. As Georgia said, Mason was the love of her life, yet her reaction at the end was anything but. It doesn't seem real as a human being. Even with those little imperfection, it was a great read.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Reading this felt like watching a soap opera or TV drama, in the best way possible! It was over-the-top and unbelievable at times, which made it such a great read. Drama and compelling writing, would definitely recommend!

This was a sudsy soap opera of a book and reminiscent of Dynasty type tv shows. It was over the top fun about three women living in an exclusive community in San Francisco. The glitz, glamour and mystery of the first two-thirds of the book was enjoyable but it slowly began to unravel. Events began to occur haphazardly, relationships crumbled inexplicably and explanations, when they did happen, seemed forced. The one explanation I had been waiting for, Brooke and Jack’s marriage, never did occur. That was a major disappointment. This juicy beach read sadly promised more than it could deliver.

My copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to the the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review it.

This was a soapy, wild ride. It is peak dramatics in all forms and I feel like if you love Real Housewives type shows, this book will be up your alley. For me it was a little too over-the-top, and one of the climactic moments a little too convenient, but it definitely held my attention.

But I think if you're looking for a less serious summer read, this could be the one for you.

I will be the first one to admit this: I judged The Sinful Lives of Trophy Wives by the title of the book. Since Kristin Miller is a new author to me, I assumed that this book would be something like Joan Collins writes. So I wasn’t surprised when I started reading TSLOTW and realized that this book was nothing like Joan Collin’s books. Instead, this was a psychological thriller.

The Sinful Lives of Trophy Lives follows three women: Brooke, Erin, and Georgia. Brooke moves into the gated community with her husband, Jack. Erin is married to Mason and has just quit her job to focus on her marriage. Georgia, also known as “Black Widow” because of the deaths of her previous husbands, is engaged to be married. There are dark secrets that the three women keep. These secrets could destroy lives if revealed. What are they, and will they be revealed?

The plot for The Sinful Lives of Trophy Wives is fast-paced. This book starts with a literal bang and doesn’t stop until the last page. The author was able to keep the pacing of the book up, even with the three separate POVs. I loved it!! I also loved that there was a slight lag too.

I loved Brooke, Erin, and Georgia, and I loved how the author kept me on edge with their characters. Just when I thought I knew those ladies, the author threw a tidbit or had them do something that made me go, “Really!!” It made for a good read because I didn’t know how these characters would end up.

The mystery/thriller angle of the book was well written. There were red herrings all over the place, and nothing was what it seemed. As soon as I thought I figured out what was going on, the author did a 180 and changed things. I loved it!!!

The secondary characters made the book too. Mason, Jack, and so many others. There were ones I loved and ones that I loathed.

There was a secondary storyline that involved Brooke and her past. I did predict what happened, but I didn’t expect what grew out of it. That took me by surprise!!

I wasn’t surprised at what was revealed about the deaths of Georgia’s husbands. I guessed that pretty early in the book. But I was surprised at who was involved and why that person got involved. So that made me look at that character differently.

I am going to warn that domestic violence is discussed at various points. For example, there are scenes where a woman gets beat by her husband in front of a child and another scene of a husband smacking his wife where the bruises couldn’t be seen and covered up with makeup.

The end of The Sinful Lives of Trophy Wives was insane. I almost couldn’t keep up with everything that the book revealed. There was a huge twist that shocked me. I did not see it coming, and it blindsided me. But, once it was announced, it made perfect sense.

I enjoyed reading The Sinful Lives of Trophy Wives. This book hooked me from page one, and I couldn’t put it down.

I would recommend The Sinful Lives of Trophy Wives to anyone over the age of 21. There are trigger warnings, which I discussed above. They are domestic violence and cheating. There are also scenes of pill-popping, sexual harassment (Erin’s male boss told her to get on her knees and beg for her job), and lots of drinking.