If you're wanting to escape from this cold weather, how about a thriller set on a cruise ship? The Ex-Husband by Karen Hamilton is the book for you.

Synopsis: Charlotte is trying to be a better person. When she was young she married a sweet-talking, charming man and got caught up in his con artist games. But now Sam is missing and Charlotte is starting to get threatening messages. To get as far away as possible from the threats, she takes a job as a personal assistant on a superyacht. She doesn't know that danger might be closer than she thinks.

My thoughts: This book was great fun! I had read The Perfect Girlfriend by the same author last year which was only ok for me. I liked this book so much better. I see that the author likes to come up with somewhat unconventional endings and I really like that. I did love how everything came together and felt very satisfied at the conclusion. I do hope the author comes up with a sequel for this book!

The Ex-Husband was a book that took me so long to get into. I kept putting it down, but would be drawn back to it. Charlotte the main character was not my favorite character, but the author does a wonderful job in creating a character that is not the most likable, yet keeps you reading to find out what happens to her. Charlotte has been left by her husband, with no money and being terrorized by someone unknown when she is offered a job on a super yacht to coordinate a party for a famous party of guests. While boarding the yacht, Charlotte meets acquaintance's from previous jobs. While the book took me a while to get into, it does pick up. It is a well written story. I would recommend to anyone who likes to read psychological thrillers.

Thought this book was well done, with keeping you on the edge of your seat. I enjoyed how the book was from the perspective of then & now. Lots of characters in the book but it was easy to follow and keep everyone straight. When Thomas' was talking about his father dying, I think that it would have been better to explain how he died, felt skipped over, could have been more dramatic. In the end, I am glad that she had changed all of the accounts to be in her name so she had looked out of herself and saved her self from Sam. I did not love that she went back into the con world with Alexandra, was hoping she would be saved from that life. Overall good book, would recommend to my friends.

Harlequin Trade PublishingI know Karen Hamilton's The Ex-Husband was not set up as a series but after reading it I kind of hope there will be a follow up. I think it's a combination of Karen Hamilton's engaging writing style and my nostalgia for exotic locales that made immersing myself into this book so easy.

Charlotte's con-artist ex-husband Sam is missing and someone is sending her threatening messages. In order to figure out who is after her and why, Charlotte accepts a job on a luxury yacht helping support an engagement party trip for a group of wealthy clients. In flashback segments we are introduced to the backstory of Charlotte's past with Sam and how the choices they made in the past could be tied to their current situation.

This was such a fun, entertaining read that helped me escape reality in a way most book lovers long to. I miss travel, beaches and sunshine and the backdrop of this psychological thriller made it all the more enjoyable for me. I do not expect or require the characters I'm reading about to be likeable or even relatable and though Charlotte's character was neither, I still found myself rooting for her. This is such a perfect beach read (oh how I wish I got to read it on a beach) but works equally as well as a mind escape winter read.

Extremely grateful to Killer Crime Club (check them out on Facebook), Harper Collins Canada, Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for a chance to read an ARC of The Ex-Husband.

Thank you so very much to the author, Harlequin and NetGalley for this really fabulous read!

Picture it: cruise ships, romance, adventure and a husband and wife employee duo conning guests out of money, jewels and even their identities. Now add someone that knows their secrets and wants revenge…

This book was really good. The plot line, the characters and story were very well written and kept me intrigued until the very end. I enjoyed it, Karen Hamilton is a terrific author. The Perfect Girlfriend was an edge of your seat read so, I knew this one would be good and it did not disappoint! I have her last one on my to be read list, The Last Wife.

If you love all things suspense, mystery and even a little thrill then you’ll love this book as I did!

This was my 3rd book by Karen Hamilton and honestly I feel much the same as I did with the others. I’m a thriller junkie, I love a big twist. Hamilton definitely throws some big curve balls but they often land too far outfield for me.

I thought The Ex-Husband was easy to read and had me intrigued. The premise had a lot of potential but wasn’t executed as well as I’d hoped. There were far too many characters and some of it felt repetitive or unnecessary.

A good effort but won’t be telling all my friends they need to read it.

Charlotte is trying to turn her life around. She has started her own business as an event planner and things are looking up for Charlotte until her ex-husband, Sam, disappears and is presumed dead. Charlotte lands a dream job on a private yacht when he’d past catches up with her. Her dream turns into a nightmare in paradise asC Charlotte tries to figure out who is stalking her.

If you like an edge of your seat thriller, you’ll enjoy The Ex-Husband. It was hard to put this book down, trying to figure out what was going to happen next!

A beautiful yacht in a tropical sea, a con artist surrounded by wealthy, beautiful people. A mystery to be solved. This was a premise that didn't live up to its classification as a thriller. The book moved a bit slowly and ventured back and forth from the present voyage to the main character's past with her husband, who was also a con artist. The ending was a bit unrealistic although I didn't guess who-dun-it. I liked this one but I didn't love it. Thank you Net Galley for the chance to review this one.

From international bestselling author Karen Hamilton comes another pulse-pounding domestic thriller set against a lush, tropical backdrop as a woman fleeing her past as a con artist finds herself trapped aboard a cruise ship with someone who not only knows about that past, but will stop at nothing to get revenge.

.
.
.

THE EX-HUSBAND was a wild ride! Full of nail-biting tension, I was completely addicted to the story and couldn't put it down. As much as i totally disliked Charlotte as a character (and I think this was done on purpose) I was still on the edge of my seat hoping that she would come out on top!

....Although if I'm totally honest I was a little bit disappointed by the final reveal (sorry not sorry!) I just felt that it wasn't as interesting as the rest of the story.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for my review copy! THE EX-HUSBAND is out now.

Most of the setting is on luxurious tropical cruises. Charlotte meets her husband, Sam, a con artist, and was swept off her feet in a passionate love story. Sam would wine and dine her, present her with expensive gifts, and do loving gestures. Charlotte fines out that Sam is a masterful con artist and he pulls her into his world of crime. As Charlotte’s relationship with Sam grows, she finds that she does not see eye to eye with Sam regarding the stealing, deceit, and lies. After being framed for a theft, Charlotte decides it’s time to separate from Sam and live a life based on truth and honesty. Prior to Sam going missing, Charlotte gets cryptic messages from him and then the threats start to roll in. Charlotte begins to fear for her safety and well-being. In an attempt to try to escape the threats, Charlotte takes a job on a luxury yacht. However, the threatening text messages continue to follow, as well as some unexplained events occur!

This is a slow burn that jumps back and forth between the past and presence tense. I felt that the time jump and the volume of character made the story confusing and difficult to follow. The main character, Charlotte, was not very likable but there was good character development throughout the book for her. I enjoyed the twists in the book and trying to figure out if the husband was dead or alive was very suspenseful. Also, the descriptions of destination (tropical atmosphere) was enjoyable.

***** Many thanks to Harlequin Trade Publisher, Graydon House, Karen Hamilton, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC. It has been provided to in turn for my honest opinion.

I don't necessarily have to like a main character to finish a book. But the main character in this one was so unlikable. As she recounts the past with her ex-hub and and their schemes,. I started liking her less and less. Theft is theft. Nothing justifies it. I honestly was kind of rooting for her to get caught and pay for her crimes. I gave up on this one about halfway through.

I don’t know why, but I love the kind of mystery where one person goes missing and all the clues and/or motivations for the mystery rely on that one character who is out of reach. Maybe it’s the search for answers more than the search for the missing person that attracts me. Either way, I really enjoyed this novel for that reason.

Charlotte is an interesting character. In the beginning, she comes off as repentant and driven to make a better life for herself. About halfway through the book, however, her real feelings start to show. She’s really not a very likable character, but I can respect her drive. She wanted to live the high life and she did everything she could to make that dream come true. Including conning innocent people that she and Sam deemed worthy.

Sam also came off as sweet and charming at first, but I’m sure that was intentional. To show us how easy it was to fall for him, and to garner sympathy for Charlotte. It worked, too, because even though I was done with Charlotte by the end, I did feel bad for all that he coerced her into. My only regret is that we don’t get his perspective on any of it. Which makes sense, but I think it’d be interesting to see how he perceived his actions.

This is the second novel of Karen Hamilton’s I’ve read. My first was The Perfect Girlfriend, which I also enjoyed immensely. She has a way of grabbing your attention and holding it, making you eager to find out what the heck is really going on. The mystery of Sam’s disappearance, of who orchestrated it all, is a great example of that. I’ll definitely be reading more of the author’s work in the future.

Domestic thriller set in exotic locations — “we all want what we think we want until we get it, but — sooner or later — it loses its shine.”

Charlotte is swept off her feet by the charming Sam and soon she finds herself a willing participant in conning rich people they meet on the cruise ships. Money, jewelry, identity — no limits to how far they will take their scam always justifying that they deserve the high life. All of the excitement starts to fade when Sam takes things a bit too far and leaves Charlotte holding the bag. He disappears but soon Charlotte hears that he has really gone missing and feared dead. Trying to get her life back on the straight and narrow is tough, but Charlotte is determined until she gets the first message. Someone from her past is looking for blood money, retributive justice. Charlotte takes a job as a personal assistant on a luxury yacht to escape and figure things out. Little does she know that she can’t run and hide from someone’s intent to get revenge. NO SPOILERS.

This was an entertaining domestic thriller with lots of fun details about ship and cruise life with the rich. The exotic destinations and all the trappings of wealth sure had a hold on the main character. Charlotte was difficult to like, but I feel that she was more young and stupid than inherently bad. The pacing was good and though I guessed the identity of the bad guy, I enjoyed the past and present format as things came to a climax. A fun read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Books for this e-book ARC to read and review.

Karen Hamilton has become the queen of twisty and untrustworthy female characters. The Perfect Husband, The Last Wife, and now The Ex-Husband all have intelligent women who have these shockingly creepy mysterious side that, quite frankly, sets me on edge (but in a good way).
.
Charlotte’s former husband, you know the one that ditched her out of the blue, has come back into her life. Someone has contacted them, aware of their con-artist past. But who could have tracked them down? Yes, there were many people they conned, but who would be smart enough to piece it all together?
.
Mostly taking place on cruise ships, yachts, and holiday destinations, this book is perfect for a quick getaway - and we are all dying for that right about now!
3 stars.

Charlotte is trying to leave her past behind but just quite can’t. She married the wrong man, a con artist that swept her off her feet and right into his games. Flip to current day and he is missing, and left cryptic messages before he disappeared about someone threatening him, the same someone that Charlotte thinks has been threatening her. What does Charlotte do? She takes a job on a luxury cruise ship, running away from anyone that might want to do her harm. After all, it’s all Sam’s fault anyway.

But alas, it’s not that easy. Someone on said ship knows what Charlotte did, and she must figure out who it is real soon. This was fun and enjoyable, the pacing moved along nicely, and it took me a minute to completely figure it out. I really liked this one overall, it was suspenseful and the ending was satisfying. This is my favorite book by Hamilton yet!

Thank you to Graydon House and NetGalley for the digital copy to review.

This was a good thriller that keeps you guessing! The narration was good. It was a little longer but I didn’t mind because I was engaged with the duel timeline!

Charlotte has an unsavory past. She married Sam, who was a con artist, and got caught up in the game. Sam (her now ex) goes missing after being threatened. Now the same is happening to her. She's trying to turn over a new leaf and takes a job on a superyacht. That's where the story picks up speed. I really enjoy books with characters that aren't totally on the straight and narrow, like this one.

The Ex-Husband by Karen Hamilton is a thriller but I was hoping for more twists. It was more suspense or mystery to me. The story opens with Charlotte getting messages/threats and with her trying to get a hold of her ex-husband Sam. The story is set in the present, but with flashbacks to the time when Sam and Charlotte met and their relationship and adventures up until Sam takes off with their money. All this leads us to why Charlotte is getting threats in the present. It has taken Charlotte time to rebuild her life after her and Sam separated. She is trying to go straight and stay away from the cons and crimes she and Sam committed in the past. She didn't really know some of the things he did, but it appears she is going to pay anyway. Charlotte has just taken a job aboard a luxury yacht, but it appears someone on the yacht is involved in whatever is going on. Can she figure out what is happening before something serious happens? Can she find Sam and sort this all out?

The Ex-Husband by Karen Hamilton is a slow building suspense/thriller story. The author slowly releases information and tidbits about Charlotte's life with Sam and what they were doing. There were times I liked Charlotte and times she really frustrated me. She closed her eyes to things and then didn't want to take responsibility. At times I thought she could have been a victim of Stockholm Syndrome due to her feelings for Sam. I became very curious about her life and how she ended up where she was. As I said, it was a slow moving story until we got near the end. The storyline on the yacht was the most riveting. I tried to figure out who was leaving Charlotte messages out of the variety of passengers and employees. There was a thrilling ending and one where I had to suspend belief just a bit, but it fit the story well. I enjoyed the ending and how Karen Hamilton tied everything up. If you enjoy a slow building story, with a well developed lead character with suspense and a couple of twists, then pick this one up.

Charlotte is trying to escape her past as a con artist when she learns that her former partner in crime and great love Sam has gone missing. As she tries to redeem herself by living clean, she seeks to uncover the what happened to Sam. It soon becomes clear that someone is out to destroy her, putting her life in serious danger.

This was just ok for me. It was a typical thriller with a lot of suspense and many twists and turns. I never felt too much connection with Charlotte and, therefor, was not really invested in her outcome. I did like the dual time periods which gave readers incite into Charlotte's personality. I felt like there could've been a few more aha moments to propel the plot forward.

Karen Hamilton delivers one heck of a mystery, focused on two grifters who so cunningly lead their targets into trusting them all while they plan ways to steal. Centered on Charlotte as she reflects on the life she built with Sam, the ex-husband-to-be, and told in both past and present, the reader is plunged into a world of deception and greed. I love the way the story unfolds as Charlotte begins a new chapter of her life, one in which she is haunted and hunted by the choice she made in being with Sam. I really enjoyed the intrigue built by Hamilton as Charlotte contemplates Sam's disappearance and the threat she is under to "payback" the money that she lost to Sam. She finds herself in essence, back in her old life, working on a private yacht and deeply distracted by both the guests and crewmates. There's action on every page and each day Charlotte passed in the company of someone out to get her makes for a very thrilling read. Charlotte is not an entirely deplorable character and you will find yourself rooting for her sanity and safety. 5 Stars and my recommendation