I wanted to like this book but it just fell flat for me. I found it difficult to get into the story. The MC was somewhat obnoxious and lacked much personality. It was a predictable read.

Perfect Parents (formally known as “The Surrogate’s Gift) follows Grace, who agrees to be a surrogate for a wealthy family of Wellice, Florida, who are unable to conceive on their own. Grace declines monetary compensation, saying that’s not why she’s doing it — but obviously the question is, why is she doing it? And even though the Thorpe’s offer to let Grace live in their guesthouse for the duration of her pregnancy — are the Thorpe’s as kind as they seem?

Good premise, yeah? I agree. Execution? Lacking.

I’m an empath, so I can usually connect to a book pretty easily — this was nearly impossible. The conversations in the book were meh, and didn’t really add anything to the book at all. As the relationship between the MC and the family she’s carrying her baby for develops, the MC advocates for herself in conversation, but her actions don’t match up and ultimately add to the flatness of this book.

There were multiple antagonists, which I guess added to the “thrill factor,” but it just seemed muddy and underdeveloped and made the end even more anti-climactic.

It’s a 🤦🏻‍♀️ (2/5) for me.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘦’𝘴 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸

🫶🏼Thank you to @netgalley @bookouture and @lgdavis for my gifted copy in exchange for a honest review

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Pub date:august 19th, 2022

𝓘 𝓰𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓶 𝓶𝔂 𝓫𝓪𝓫𝔂, 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝓘 𝓽𝓻𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓶?

𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞.. 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐰𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐬.
𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐚𝐭, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧'𝐭 𝐬𝐨 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭. 𝐀𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭. 𝐀𝐬 𝐈 𝐤𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐧, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞.. 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐋𝐢𝐳 𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭. 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐚 𝐬𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥. 𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐢𝐭. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠🤌🏻🤌🏻 𝐢 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐭! 𝐈 𝐝𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬!
(All opinions are my own)

At times this felt a bit like the Point Horror books I used to read as a teenager. I thought it was an interesting topic for a book and the author interweves chapters from the past and present to build up the mystery. The big reveal was a bit dramatic but overall, I thought it was a quick easy read.

Wow what an amazing book, I was absolutely hooked from the very beginning, this is a new author for me and I'll definitely read more book, I highly recommend this book.

While this started out strong and had all the workings of a great domestic thriller, the ending fell a little flat for me. It seemed rushed and a bit too predictable for my liking. Overall though, for new domestic thriller reader or for those looking for a quick read, I think it fits the mold.

A great book by L. G. Davis, from beginning to end.
Poor Grace was pulled, both emotionally and physically, from pillar to post. She was made to feel responsible for so much that just wasn't her fault. Emotions ran so high from, the desperation to have a bundle of love to hold, that deceit became the new normal.
Travis and Marcie loved each other and shared the passion to have a baby, but it lead to insecurity and wrong doings.
A must read.

Seriously dark and sinister and with a really clever premise and backstory behind it, I loved this book.
The idea of having a child then giving it away is seemingly incredibly altruistic and full of self sacrifice but there is definitely more to it in this case. The lead character has a tragic past and we slowly start to find what it entailed. She is very likeable and also vulnerable which makes for a compelling story to see where life will take her. There are many dark twists and turns to the story and it was definitely edgy and nail biting stuff at times. I didn’t guess the answers which was a win for me and I enjoyed the tale from start to finish. Thank you.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review*

This was a quick read - some of it was a little predictable - but a good story! Not as good as the last one I read - Liar, Liar, but I would read another book by L.G. Davis.

🍼The Surrogate’s Gift 🍼

Author: L.G. Davis

Rating: 4 ⭐️


The Surrogate’s Gift is a domestic thriller about about a woman named Grace who, following the death of her twin sister, has chosen to carry a baby for Marcia and Travis Thorpe. The Thorpe’s invite Grace into their home and proceed to take control of her life. This novel was a fast paced read, and kept me on my toes throughout. It was a book that starts off with an act of kindness and turns into something much more sinister. I really enjoyed reading it! Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

An intense, psychological thriller that had me unable to stop reading!
When Marcia and Travis choose Grace to be their surrogate it seemed flawless.
They would take care of Grace and and she would produce the "Best" baby. Then they would all "live happily ever after". Right?
Not Even Close!
The perfect parents are not exactly perfect, yet who knows who is creating all this awful doubt and horror for Grace? This should be a joyous time!
Perhaps it is Grandma, or the housekeeper or maybe a friend? Certainly not Marcia and Travis!
I had no idea and I was desperate to find out exactly what could be happening and who was creating this nightmare?
It is definitely a quick, scary read that I enjoyed.
Anyone who likes psychological suspense and mystery will love this novel!

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Bookouture for this ARC and allowing me to provide my own review.

Flippin' Flappin' Flip-Flops! 😳😯🤯

Well this one had some major promise - not just from the synopsis but also the writing by this author. Davis knew how to keep me intrigued, interested, doling out just enough to keep me unsure and off my feet. It was definitely an easy and fast paced psychological thriller with some dark twists thrown in for good measure. I was totally enamoured with the plot and what the conclusion could hold.

Mყ 𝐒ყɴ𝐨ρѕιѕ: When Grace is presented with an opportunity to be a surrogate for Marcia and Travis, she feels like it's a chance to start over from her traumatic past by fulfilling a need for this perfect couple. As the pregnancy progresses, they offer up their guesthouse to stay in until the baby arrives. But when she agrees and moves in, she immediately regrets her decision. With the Trope's constant hovering, Marcia's mother's disapproval, her own past regrets & inner turmoil, to random events happening, it that will cause her to question her sanity, her safety and ultimately her decision.

I will admit this story started out strong and didn't let up once which I both appreciated and enjoyed. However, the ending wasn't something I was left satisfied with; feeling it to be rushed and trying too hard to tie up some loose ends. I felt and was given the impression that the ending held more of "holy moo moo!" type moment, but it didn't deliver for me. But that aside, the 3/4 of the novel before that were wicked good! The potential was there, but the execution was just off for me at the end.

🔴 Trigger Warning: Miscarriages

Thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture for this ARC.
Release Date: August 19, 2022

𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭: 3 / 5 Beach Waves! 🌊

I started this off thinking it'd be predictable and the same as a million other thrillers I'd read but boy was I wrong! This had me invested from the start and I flew through it in a day. Initially it does seem quite boring and bla bla bla but then as the book progresses, omg! There was so much that I did not see coming at all and the twists are so cleverly thought out and executed. There are a lot of thrillers about the same topic of surrogates or babysitter etc but this one is a level above all the rest! It's literally the book that other thrillers aspire to be when they grow up. A must read!!

Grace has gone from a successful business woman with a lovly house and boyfriend to jobless, homeless and extremely anxious. This follows the death of her twin sister- grace feeling wholly responsible for her death.

Trying to give something back to the world, grace has offered to become a surrogate to Marcia and Travis, who are desperate to have a baby after many failed attempts.

Once pregnant, marcia and Travis insist she stays in their guest house for the duration of her pregnancy but they are taking control of her life, leaving her feeling claustrophic and trapped.

Although Grace builds a friendship with the recently widowed clayton, life is not easy as unexpected occurances happy in her guest house.

A touching read with a firey, twisted ending. Highly recommend a read.

🤰The book follows Grace who is tying to deal with her guilt by becoming a surrogate for Marcia and Travis Thorpe. She is really hopeful that by giving a child to Thorpe family, she would finally be able to calm her inner demons. But she has no idea that an act of kindness will turn into a nightmare. The Thorpe who are over obsessed with the baby starts controlling her every move: where she is going and what’s she eating. Soon she starts receiving threatening messages too and Grace realises that there is someone in the household who is keeping deadly secrets and she and her baby’s life are in danger.

🤰 I was suppose to start another book after finishing my last read. But I randomly picked this one and oh my goodness! There was no going back as I was totally invested. What started off as a normal story about a surrogate and a couple desperate for baby soon turned into something sinister. I literally finished it in one afternoon. I won’t say that the storyline was something extraordinary but the mystery, hidden secrets, creepiness and nail biting suspense made it a definite page turner. I found it almost impossible to put it down. 😭

🤰And I can’t wait to read more by the author. Thanks to author and the publisher for the ARC.

🤰PS: I am so glad that I have found some amazing thriller writers through NetGalley.

An intense read with a chilling atmosphere. This book was gripping right from the start and will haunt me for a long time to come. It was twisty and unpredictable and I read it in one sitting.

Would you ever become a surrogate for a couple that you barely know? Who knows the skeletons that lay in their closets. This book follows Grace as she becomes a surrogate for a couple. But is she doing it for the right reason and the right couple? This book is a rollercoaster of twists and turns that keep you reading.
I loved the twists that this book took and was shocked by them. You truly never know what someone else is thinking. If you love books that leave you with a feeling of I didn't see that coming this book is for you.

Well what can i say this book blow me away,

L.G writes some amazing books and It just had me hooked from the start you will fall in love with Grace is the main female led and she is so sweet and caring. This book has it all, the secrets, Lies, things you will never see coming it will keep you turning the pages I don't want to give any spoilers but if you are a fan of Thrillers you don't want to miss out on this one

3.5 rounded up
Two weeks ago Marcia and Travis Thorpe are made an offer of a lifetime, what will the answer be? Grace Cooper waits with bated breath. The answer is yes, Grace is to be the couples surrogate. Why is Grace prepared to do this for nothing? Is she making a huge mistake as her best friend Sydney believes? Are the Thorpes’ the perfect parents?

This psychological domestic drama has a good premise with the surrogacy gift and the author gets inside Graces head and also gives us insight into the future parents feelings. Via the backstory from 2013 we learn the sad truth of her motivation and see that tragedy dogs her. The surrogacy issue is done well, looking at both sides.

As the storyline builds you cannot work some things out. All the Thorpes kind or suffocating, attentive or claustrophobic? It starts to become very creepy with tension and dread building. Parts are intense and you can’t quite work out what’s going on with some potential red herrings that throw you off the scent!

Some of the characterisation is good but some of them feel a bit stereotypical or one dimensional though the main ones are done well. To me, the first 75% of the book is the best part as it become somewhat melodramatic as it weaves its way to the end although some bits are exciting. I do enjoy that warning shot across the bows at the end!

Overall though, this is an entertaining easy read and just what I need!

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Bookouture for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

The Surrogate's Gift by L.G. Davis delivers a pulse-pounding thriller that had me flying through the pages. You will want to clear your schedule so you can devour this one in a single go.

Grace has decided that she will bestow the ultimate gift upon Marcia and Travis Thorpe, a couple desperate to have a child of their own, by becoming their surrogate. It seems such a selfless act, and for much of the narrative we are left in the dark as to Grace's motivation in making the offer, for which she wants no compensation. Told from a shifting timeline of past and present, the author teases what brought Grace to this point in her life, and I will say no more, but trust me when I say that this one is well worth an investment of your time.

This is a compulsively readable and twisty thriller that I heartily recommend. 4.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC.