Carla Kovach's "Her Hidden Shadow" (Detective Gina Harte Book 14)

 

Her perfect night out just became her worst nightmare…

Lauren returns home from celebrating her engagement with friends and stumbles as she gets out of the taxi. So what if her best friend Sienna didn’t show up? Lauren had a good night anyway. As she walks towards the small house she shares with her fiancé, Robbie , she’s surprised to see every window in total darkness. And when she calls his name, the house remains silent. Where is Robbie?

Kicking off her red heels, Lauren heads towards her bedroom, feeling more nervous with every step. And when she opens the door, she immediately knows something is very wrong. The sickly metallic smell sobers her up instantly. And there is someone in her bed…

Moving closer, her heart races in her chest. Instead of her fiancé, in the bed lies the lifeless body of a young woman, and although long dark hair covers her face, Lauren can already see who it is… her best friend, Sienna.

As Lauren’s scream breaks the silence, someone stands outside the bedroom, tracking her every move. Did Lauren’s perfect little home just become the most dangerous place she could be? 

Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Cara Hunter and Clare Mackintosh, Her Hidden Shadow will have you hooked from the very first page. ~taken from Goodreads

Another banger from Author Carla Kovach! The Detective Harte series is just phenomenal. You really can't go wrong when you pick up a book from this series. They all work together or as stand alone books. 

This time Gina is back with an old flame and they are figuring out their newly rekindled relationship. Meanwhile, a series of murders happens and Gina's work partner seems to be a suspect. To make matters worse, an old work nemesis from Gina's past is put in charge of the investigation, meaning Gina is no longer lead and answers to someone else. She will have to put everything she has into proving her partner is innocent. 

The current murders seem somehow linked to past assaults, but the assaults have gone unsolved. Somehow there has to be a link to all the victims and Gina needs to figure it out and fast. 

There was a weird subplot about eco-activism thrown in to this plot that was irrelevant and boring. I see what the author was trying to do, but find that taking it out completely wouldn't have changed the story much. 

The twists and turns kept coming up until the end. An intriguing mystery novel.  Another 5 star read! 

Click here to see all my reviews on Carla Kovach books-----> Kovach Books

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me an advanced copy to read and review. "Her Hidden Shadow" is available now in the U.S. so get your copy now! 

Happy Reading! 

Their Cold Hearts by Carla Kovach

She shuts the door behind her, relieved to be in the safety of her own home. But tonight her house is the most dangerous place she could be. Someone has been waiting for her, and they know she’s home alone…

Sasha loves her job finding accommodation for homeless people, and she’s proud of the small but cosy apartment she rents on the good side of town. She’s worked hard to leave her dark past behind her and make amends for the accident that still haunts her memories. She knows she was innocent, though she’s still careful about who and what she tells of her old life. But not all secrets stay hidden forever…

When her phone rings loudly in the middle of the night, Sasha fears what she’ll hear when she picks up – a deathly silence. It’s happened every night for weeks. Is it a childish prank, or a chilling warning that someone has uncovered her secret?

But the news of a body found at a local shelter means her worst nightmare has come true. It can’t be a coincidence that evidence related to the victim has been found at the same location where the most devastating moment of Sasha’s life took place.

Days later, a second body is found and Sasha’s heart pounds wildly as she takes in the victim’s unforgettable green eyes. She hasn’t seen her in a long time, but she’d know her old friend anywhere. She was the only other person who knew Sasha’s secret, so how can Sasha prove her innocence now?

Sasha doesn’t know who’s coming for her, but she’s certain of one thing: she’s next on the list… ~taken from Goodreads

Detective Gina Harte and her squad is back in book 13 of this series from author Carla Kovach. I am not new to this series, as it's one of my favorite. Kovach is such a phenomenal writer and you can read reviews of other books of hers I have read and reviewed by clicking here.

Like I have said in my previous reviews, you don't have to have read the previous books in the series to read this one. It works just fine as a stand alone book, and it's great to get you hooked on the series, then you can go back and read the first twelve you missed after finishing this one! 

Gina is taking a few days off to be with her granddaughter while her daughter is on holiday. Of course, she gets asked to be lead in a murder case and simply cannot say no. 

Sasha is a type of a social worker. She helps the unfortunate find temporary shelter until they can find more permanent placements. Sasha is also hiding a secret and someone who knows it just turned up dead.

Meanwhile Marcie is a 16 year old true crime enthusiast who has her own podcast and will go to any lengths to involve herself in the case. 

Of course, this was a nail biting page-turner, like always. Kovach does a wonderful job expanding on regular characters   and is perfection at introducing new ones to the story. Twists and turns left me on edge not knowing what to expect. The ending wasn't something I saw coming at all!

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me an advanced digital copy to read and give my honest review! Another 5 star read!

"Their Cold Hearts" is out today, April 19, 2023 here in the U.S. so get your copy now! 

Happy Reading! 

"The Houseshare" by Carla Kovach

Her perfect new start just became her biggest nightmare…

Opening the door to her new home, Libby can’t believe she can afford such a beautiful place. As her new landlord follows her into the bright, open living room, watching her every more, she feels so lucky she spotted the ad online.

‘You’re just the tenant I’ve been looking for,’ the landlord tells her as he drops the keys into her hand. Libby smiles as she unpacks her small suitcase and thinks about the troubled life she has just walked out on.

Days later, Libby is woken by the sound of her neighbours arguing through the wall. As she listens to their angry words, she swears she hears her name mentioned. Why would they be talking about her?

As the weeks pass, Libby can’t help but feel that someone is watching her and when she hears that the last girl who rented her apartment before her vanished without trace, she starts to double lock her door every night. Then she finds a handwritten message in her apartment telling her she’s in danger, and her new home no longer feels like the safe haven it once was. Did someone from Libby’s past follow her here? And just how safe is she behind closed doors?

If you love gripping psychological thrillers like Gone Girl and Mark Edwards’s Here to Stay, you’ll be blown away by The Houseshare. Addictive, tense and with an ending you won’t see coming, you’ll be up all night turning the pages.

The Houseshare is a rework of To Let, which was previously published by the same author. ~taken from Goodreads

Author, Carla Kovach, is one of my favorites. Her Gina Harte series is divine, and you can read all the books of Kovach's that I have have reviewed here on my blog. 

It wasn't aware this was a rewriting of a book she had previously self-published under a different title a few years ago until I had finished the book and read the letter from the author. I think that made me feel better about it, as I was a bit disappointed with this novel. 

The first half of this started out strong and I really got sucked in from the start. The variety of characters felt authentic and there was a flow to how the story was told. Some tension here and little suspense thrown in there. Kovach has a way of telling a story and dangling mystery in at the perfect time to keep the reader interested. 

The second half was a letdown though. It seemed like a cd that was scratched and just kept skipping and repeating. The same things kept happening over and over and it was easy to see that who we were expected to thing the antagonist was, was in fact not the antagonist. 

I will say there was a plot twist that came at the end that I was NOT expecting at all! It really threw me for a loop, and I did have to go back a re-read it because it was that surprising! However, I feel the ending was very rushed and a bit unsatisfying. 

"The Houseshare" is available today! It was a 3 star read for me! You can download the e-book from your favorite digital retailor or order a physical copy today for a quick beach or weekend read! 

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me an advanced digital copy to read and give my honest review. 

Happy Reading! 

"One Last Prayer" by Carla Kovach

 

She races home, her young son clasped tightly to her chest, glancing over her shoulder at every face she passes. She reaches the safety of her home, closing the door behind her. Little does she know the danger that awaits her inside…

When local vicar, Sally, packs away the brightly coloured toys and dog-eared books left over from a morning parent and toddler group, her heart pounds as she discovers a note left

‘Help me.’

Sally knows the mother who sat in that spot. Rushing to Nell’s small house nearby, her feeling of dread grows. Her frantic knock goes unanswered. Inside, she hears Nell’s one-year-old son Alfie crying, but still Nell doesn’t come.

Running to the back of the house, Sally’s breath catches at the sight of Nell’s lifeless body laid out in the garden.

When police investigate the young mother’s tragic death, rumours start to spread. Some say Nell had enemies. Some say she wasn’t telling the truth about who she really was. And some say she was running from a dark past.

With reports of a mysterious figure seen watching Nell’s house, it’s clear whoever took her life is close by. And when a break-in at the church ends with a brutal attack on Sally, the vicar who found Nell’s body, it’s clear that this killer isn’t finished yet… ~taken from Goodreads

"One Last Prayer" is number 16 in the Gina Harte detective series. I started reading this series pretty well into it. These can be read together or as a stand alone. I had no problem jumping right in and getting to know the characters and their backgrounds half way through the series. 

All of Kovach's mysteries are well written with great character and plot development. This narrative has the perspective of several different points of views, giving the mystery a bit of a twist for the reader. There's also diary entries from an unknown character that adds to the thrill. 

There are several people who make for good suspects, so as more information is known, and the the plot thickens (LOL) the mystery deepens and the thrill builds. 

On the subject of several suspects, there were a lot of people to keep track of in this storyline. I was very confused and at times frustrated trying to figure out who was who from previous chapters. 

Then, of course, there is the continuing storyline of Detective Gina Harte. This book's involvement in Gina's personal life seemed a bit unexpected yet boring at the same time. 

All in all, this was another good read from Carla Kovach! One Last Prayer is out now here in the U.S. so pick up your copy at your favorite book retailer or local library! 

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me an advanced e-copy to read and give my honest review. This was a 4 star read! 

Happy Reading! 

"Her Deadly Promise" by Carla Kovach

 

Four-year-old Kayden has been sitting alone on the little patch of tired grass outside his house for hours. His cheeks are wet with tears as he waits for his mother’s warm embrace. But she’ll never arrive to pick up her darling boy. She’ll never be seen again…

Church Road is a quiet corner of suburbia where happy families play in the local park and neighbours smile as they pass in the street. But behind the bright red door of number 8 lies the body of Billie Reeves, a young mum who just took her last breath.

Serena is Billie’s sister. When she found out her boyfriend had been obsessively calling Billie, she’d all but cut her from her life. But not before vowing she would make Billie pay for ruining her relationship…

Shaun is Billie’s ex-boyfriend. He left her the moment she fell pregnant. When he turned up at Billie’s door, demanding to see Kayden, she refused to take the risk of him hurting her precious son. He’ll do whatever it takes to get his little boy back…

Nadia is Billie’s best friend. Their kids attended the same school and Billie often opened up to Nadia about her struggles as a single mother. She knows Billie’s deepest, darkest secret. She promised never to tell, but that was before the argument…

When police investigate the quiet little street, they discover everyone was whispering about Billie’s late-night callers. What was going on behind the closed door of Billie’s small home? And if someone was prepared to kill her, what do they know, and who will be next?

Fans of Angela Marsons, Cara Hunter and Clare Mackintosh, will love Her Deadly Promise – a completely gripping crime thriller that will have you hooked from the very first page! ~taken from Goodreads

This was not my first Carla Kovach book and certainly won't be my last! I truly love her writing style- it's easy to follow, she is brilliant at creating relatable and authentic characters, and she perfectly sets scenes. This book is the 12 book in the Detective Gina Harte Series, though reading the previous books is not necessary to read this novel. You can check out the other Kovach novels I have read and reviewed on my blog by clicking here.

For those who haven't read this series before, these don't read like other police procedural series. They read more like a true thriller. We get to dive deep into the lives of several characters, some might even be suspects along the way. We also continue the ongoing story that is Gina Harte and her squad. We continue to see how their personal lives mix with their work lives and make their bonds stronger. 

This case was very unique. It immediately had me hooked. The mix match group of girlfriends had me questioning everything. There were so many twists that it kept me interested almost the entire read. It did start to waver 3/4 of the way through. It seemed to just drag on and on without any real meat. Then it seemed to wind down suddenly and I was partially confused on what was going on. This wasn't a favorite Gina Harte read but I liked it.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me an advanced ecopy to read and give my honest review. It was a 4 star read for me. 

Her Deadly Promise is set to be released here in the U.S. on Dec 2, 2022 so preorder now! 

Happy Reading! 

"One Girl Missing" by Carla Kovach

Five-year-old Cally waits in her pretty pink bedroom for the sound of the front door opening and her mother’s sweet voice in the hall. But when the doorbell finally rings, and Cally creeps out of bed to peer through the banister, a large man in uniform is all she sees. Her mother is missing...

Teacher Annabel Braddock was last seen drinking at the local pub with her best friend, Jennifer. Witnesses saw tears running down her cheeks, and friends say she was having problems with a colleague at work, and that her marriage had broken down.

But as the two women hugged goodbye, neither noticed the car speeding towards them. As the dust settled, Jennifer lay unconscious on the ground and Annabel was nowhere to be seen. She’d never abandon her little girl, so did someone snatch her?

As family crowd around Jennifer’s hospital bed, hoping she’ll wake up, police visit Annabel’s home and her inconsolable daughter, Cally, tells them she had seen a man outside staring into her room as she climbed into bed that evening. Was it her childish imagination, or had someone been watching Annabel’s home?

When Jennifer finally opens her eyes and tells the police what happened that night, it’s clear there are plenty of people with a reason to harm Annabel. With an unpredictable husband, a colleague who denies harassing her and a neighbour who seems to know her every move, could she be in imminent danger? As the hours turn to days, will little Cally ever see her precious mother again? Or will she be next? ~taken from Goodreads

Author Carla Kovach is still going strong! I stumbled across her Gina Harte series back during the start of Covid, and fell in love. If you haven't read any of the series you should, but these books work fine as stand alone reads. In fact I didn't read from the beginning of the series and started with book 7. If you want to read my reviews on the books I have read of Kovach's just click here. 

Like her other books, this one kept me fully engaged from start to finish. Yes, there were times that the story was predicable, but there were so many plot twists I was kept guessing up until the end. 

The characters were diverse and complete. I really felt like I got the full picture of each one of them and felt like they were well grounded and important to the overall story. This book is told from alternating perspectives which helped immerse me into the mystery and see the picture from all sides. 

There is plenty of action in this book and the plot moves along at a steady pace, never fizzing out like other mystery or thrillers do. I never once felt like the story was dragging along. This crime thriller is well thought out and I enjoyed every word. 

This was a solid 4.5 star read for me. I truly enjoy the Gina Harte series and cannot wait for the next to be published. "One Girl Missing" is set to be released here in the U.S. on March 9, 2020 so pre-order now! 

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me an advanced digital copy to read and give my honest review. 

Happy Reading!

 

"Then She Vanished" by Carla Kovach

 

Thirty years ago, Ruth Pritchard’s sixteen-year-old daughter, Elissa, went missing. Police were called, neighbours were interviewed, and even Ruth’s own husband was investigated, but the case went unsolved. Elissa disappeared forever.

Now, Ruth watches the local news and hears about another girl gone from the same streets where her beloved daughter was last seen, and her heart races. A distinctive red scarf was found at a crime scene, and she recognises it instantly. It belonged to Elissa.

After Ruth alerts the police, they rush to speak to her, but nobody answers the door. Her small home stands eerily quiet. Just like her daughter before her, Ruth has vanished into thin air. 

Friends say that Ruth suspected someone close to home took Elissa. Others say she never trusted her husband again after he was questioned by police. Did she finally discover the truth behind her daughter’s disappearance? And will her friends and family ever see her again? ~taken from Goodreads

Here we are at book 17 of Carla Kovach's Gina Harte Series

and this book might be the best one yet! 

We once again are are swept up in the private life drama of Detective Gina Harte. Her past still haunts her, but recently someone is threatening to expose her secrets to her friends and coworkers. She is sure this will be the downfall of her career.  Her head needs to be in this very complicated and urgent case, but this life matter can't seem to wait and keeps her preoccupied and distracted. 

This storyline has so many characters and elements to it, it is a bit hard to keep sorted but believe me- it's worth it in the end! Told from multiple points of view makes this even more complex and gripping. Kovach has a way with words and this story flows nicely and easily. I read the majority of it in just 24 hours. 

When you think you might have it all figured out you realize you aren't even close to the end of the book. Then the author throws a twist you didn't even see coming. It's truly a one-of-a-kind storyline. It kept me guessing to the end and surprised me even after I thought it was all wrapped up. 

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me an advanced digital copy to read and give my honest review. This was a 5+ star read!

"Then She Vanished is set to be released March 17, 2025 here in the U.S. so reorder you copy today! 

Happy Reading! 

Carla Kovach's "On A Quiet Street

 

Every family has its secrets. Some are more deadly than others…I live on a quiet tree-lined street with my perfect husband Cain. But when 18-year-old Charlotte knocks on the front door, what she says has me questioning just how well I really know my husband. ‘I was adopted as a baby and I’m looking for my biological parents. I was told they live here.' 

My heart races as I fear Cain has been keeping a huge secret from me. Does he have a child he never told me about? And has he been lying all these years? I can’t trust anything Cain says. Desperate for answers, I agree to meet Charlotte in secret. But it’s Charlotte who is full of about our lives, our relationship. It’s only when she lets slip the name of the road I used to live on, that I realise how much she knows about me, too…Cold fear floods through my body. My husband may not have told the truth, but his lies are nothing compared to mine. If Charlotte knows my darkest secret, my whole life could fall apart. ~taken from Goodreads

"On A Quiet Street" is a standalone novel by Carla Kovach, the author most known for her Detective Gina Harte series. I love the Harte series and have read and reviewed several of them over the years here on the blog. 

Kovach's writing style is always seamless. It's descriptive enough that the story just flows, but not so detailed it becomes boring. The characters are always so well developed. The plot of all her books are well thought out, with twists and turns in all the right spots. 

This novel was no different plus the storyline was so unique. I have to admit there wasn't a single character I liked in this book though. The plot is broken into parts and it also alternates between characters. I do like that I got to see the full story from different perspectives- certain blanks getting filled in as I read the same scene happen from another character's view. 

Despite the unlikable characters I really did like this book and do recommend it. The plot and ending is unpredictable, which is the most fun of any mystery. At no point in the story did I know what was going to happen next. 

"On A Quiet Street" is set to be released on January 15, 2024 here in the U.S. so pre-order it now! It was a solid 4 star read! Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for the advanced e-copy to read and give my honest review. 

Happy Reading! 

Their Silent Graves by Carla Covach

 

Dressed in garish Halloween costumes, two teenage girls run through a patch of dense woodland towards the outskirts of town. But before they can reach the safety of the streets beyond, they make a shocking discovery.

Following a piece of old rope, the girls find a large mound of freshly laid earth, undisturbed in the darkness of the trees. Clawing at the ground beneath them, they make contact with something solid. When they realise what they’ve discovered, the silence is broken by their piercing screams as they stare down at the shallow grave.

Without looking back, they run as fast as they can, failing to spot the person nearby watching their every move…

And when another grave is found just days later, it’s clear a serial killer is praying on the small town. But who is the killer watching now? And when will another grave be filled?

If you like Angela Marsons, Cara Hunter and Clare Mackintosh, you’ll love this heart-racing thriller from bestselling author, Carla Kovach. With gripping suspense and a twist you won’t see coming, Their Silent Graves will have you hooked from page one. ~taken from Amazon

I went into this knowing that it was book seven in a series, but all my research lead me to believe this could be read as a stand-alone book. My research was right, and it is a book I really did enjoy! 

It starts with two horrific scenes from the past:

A coffin maker sees his friend lock his wife in the shed after one of his regular wife beatings. 

A teenage girl, new to town, is buried alive in a coffin after attending a party.

We then cut to two teenagers on their way to a Halloween party who decide to cut through a wooded field as a shortcut. They come across a bell stuck in a tree branch. Attached to it is a piece of rope and they decide to follow it. They come across a freshly dug grave and after digging hit the top of a coffin...

Detective Gina Harte is on the investigation of the victim who was buried alive in a coffin. She soon realizes she had an encounter with the victim just a day or two before. The idea that the victim was buried alive also brings up anxiety about her own past. 

We also meet Cherie. Cherie is a mess. She is back to her drinking ways, trying to navigate marriage and motherhood while secretly becoming an alcoholic again. The Halloween holiday is not helping her mental chaos, as it seems to be the trigger of her downward spiral. To top it all off, her childhood friend has gone missing, and her old high school crew are being vague yet weirdly worried about what could have happened to their missing friend.

This book alternates perspectives and it really kept me on my toes. Though I did have hard time keeping track of characters at the beginning, it didn't take me long to keep everyone straight. The author did a wonderful job setting scenes and building on the characters. 

This book is full of mysterious twists and suspenseful turns. I kept trying to figure out what exactly all the characters had that connected them to this grizzly murder and it wasn't until the end that I finally put it all together. 

I am so glad I read "Their Silent Graves" by Carla Kovach because I truly enjoyed every word and I plan on reading books 1-6! I cannot wait to dive into this series! 

"Their Silent Graves" is being released September 17, 2020 here in the U.S. and I suggest ordering it now! A 5-star read for me! 

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me an eARC to read and give my honest review! 

Happy Reading! 

"The Broken Ones" by Carla Kovach

 

Amber applies a dash of red lipstick and checks herself out in the mirror before heading out on a date. ‘Don’t wait up!’ she calls to her housemates as she leaves. But Amber never returns home that night. Amber Slater is never seen again.

The last person to see Amber was her housemate. He remembers everything she was wearing that night. He watched her leave. He listened to every word of her phone conversation with her friend before she left. He knows more about Amber’s movements than anyone.

At university, she is well-liked by her fellow students and teachers. Her tutor’s voice shakes when he is questioned by the police. Some say he and Amber were very close. Too close. Some say his wife had just found out about their relationship.

The manager at the restaurant where Amber was supposed to eat that night says she didn’t show up. Yet the chef at the restaurant is overly chatty about her. He wasn’t working that night. He wasn’t answering his phone. Nobody knows where he was when Amber went missing.

Rumours begin to circulate about Amber, it seems that everyone has a story to tell. But when the young girl’s lifeless body is found in a local park, with her blue lips glued shut, the gossip suddenly goes quiet. As the police trace the last few hours of Amber’s life, it seems that the girl simply vanished on her way to catch her bus. And when another woman goes missing in the dead of night, it’s a race against time to find her before she too is silenced forever. ~taken from Goodreads

This is the second book I have read by author, Carla Kovach, and I have to say this series is pretty damn good! I want to note that this is the 8th book in a series, but it can read as a stand alone book. I started with my first Detective Gina Harte book last year with "Their Silent Graves" and I loved it! This book was no different. 

This book alternates between perspectives, which I feel gives the feel of a well rounded story, but also an air of mystery.  Sure, you get "first hand" accounts of what is happening, but one particular character is unknown up until the end, which left me guessing and being completely surprised. 

The murder storyline is original and  intriguing in itself. I really enjoyed turning each page as I was left guessing who the murderer could be right up until the end. We also get to follow along with the ongoing saga of Detective Gina Harte I was only recently introduced to but could follow along with no issues of having only read one previous book in this series. The Detective Harte storyline takes a bit of a backseat compared to the other book in the series I've read, but fit in nicely with the overall plot. 

There are quite a few characters in this book, and with the storyline jumping perspectives, I will admit I was a bit lost keeping everyone straight at first. After the first handful of chapters it was easy to follow along. The array of characters made the mystery more exciting and for awhile it seemed that everyone could have a motive for murder and everyone could be suspect. 

This was a fun, quick read and I have plans to read this entire series, as the writing is phenomenal. 

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me an e-ARC to read and give my honest review. It was a 4 star read for me!

"The Broken Ones" is set to be released here in the U.S. on March 1, 2021 so pre-order now! 

Happy Reading! 

"My Husband's Wife" by Carla Kovach

Five years ago I buried my husband. Today I saw him with his new wife.

‘Thank you for agreeing to be our wedding planner. Theo is on his way,’ Madison says as we meet to plan her dream wedding. The moment her fiancé enters the room, a newborn baby in his arms, my whole world shifts and I grab hold of my desk to stop myself from falling.

Theo shakes my hand as he introduces himself, but I already know who he is. He’s my husband. The man I thought had died five years ago.

‘Lovely to meet you, Eva,’ he says, carefully avoiding my frozen stare. I’d recognise his smooth voice anywhere.

I want to scream, ask him why he’s doing this to me. But I know just how good a liar my husband is. And he knows my darkest secret. I can’t risk him destroying everything I’ve worked so hard for.

At the end of the meeting, I watch the happy little family walk away, and I don’t miss Theo’s eyes staring at me just a second too long. He knows I’m onto him. But only I know what I’m going to do next… ~taken from Goodreads

I am always up for a new read from Carla Kovach. Just pop her name in the search on my blog and you can see I have read and reviewed several of her books. She has an easy going way of writing that immerses you in the happenings and keeps every chapter as interesting as the last. 

This was a very unique plot and I have to just say, highly unrealistic, but it was a wild read! If you think you have it figured out, believe me you don't. 

This is broken up into three separate points of view- the first from Eva, who tragically lost her husband a few years ago. The second from Madison, who's soon-to-be husband looks almost exactly like Eva's ex-husband. The third point of view is from Nicole, a new friend of Eva's who has a link to Eva's new husband. How does she fit into all of this?

  Yes, the characters in this book got annoying at times. There wasn't a single relatable one. The weird twists and crazy turns that showed up in the last quarter of the book were unexpected. This was just a highly entertaining read. I really liked it! 

I, of course, won't give away the ending, though I am not sure I could summarize it if I tried. The sheer drama of the wrap up will leave you shocked. 

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me an advanced digital copy to read and give my honest review. It was a 4 star read! 

"My Husband's Wife" is available now in the U.S. so get your copy now! 

Happy Reading! 

  

 

"Find Me" by Carla Kovach

I’ll never forget that day. It was blisteringly hot, and I begged our mother for an ice cream. As we left you with Dad, I didn’t know it would be the last time I saw your face. Minutes later, we returned to the end of the pier where we had parked your pushchair. Dad was asleep on a bench, and your little pink blanket was empty. You had vanished.

Twenty-five years later. The morning of the anniversary of Jess’s disappearance starts like every other for her sister Kate – a rushed school run, a cold cup of coffee and a quick scan of the news for updates. But when her phone beeps with a message from an unknown number, everything changes.

I know what happened to Jess.

Finally, Kate’s a step closer to getting answers to the questions that have tormented her for so long. Why was her mother so angry that day? How did her father sleep through his own daughter’s abduction? And when the police car came screeching towards the pier, how is it that nobody saw a single thing?

As she drives her young family to the seaside town to meet the mystery messenger, she feels uneasy. Who are they and why did they reach out now? But before Kate finds out, history repeats itself and her world is turned upside down once more.

Then Kate receives one final, terrifying message… will her pursuit of the truth cost the lives of everyone she has ever loved?

This completely unputdownable psychological thriller will have you hooked from the very first page. Perfect for fans of Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train and The Wife Between Us.

This is not my first book by this author. I accidently stumbled upon Carla Kovach's Gina Harte series back in 2020 and fell in love with the author's writing style. I saw that she had a new mystery/thriller being released and was so excited to get my hands on a copy! To read other reviews I've published on her books just pop her name in the search bar at the top of the page. 

It's been 25 years since Baby Jess has disappeared and been presumed dead on an outing to a seaside town with her family. Her older sister, Kate, has never forgotten and makes sure the world remembers by keeping a vigil via online social media pages dedicated to her sister. Kate is now a mother herself and the events from that day have molded the way she parents her own daughters. She is overprotective to the point that it is starting to affect her marriage. 

She's also obsessed with finding more information about the day that Jess disappeared, another issue that plagues her marriage. The family decides to plan a holiday to the small seaside town to have a ceremony of remembrance and, hopefully for Kate, get some closure about her sister. It's also the perfect cover up to the fact that Kate got a message that someone knows something about Jess's disappearance. 

There were so many characters in this book that it was hard to keep track of who was who and where they fit into the story. Because this is a mystery, the characters are important and knowing who each one is and how they contribute to this town is vital. Then there is Kate, the main character. She's horribly annoying. I honestly couldn't stand her. I found it hard to believe she was a wife and mother because she acted like a teenager who was impulsive and had no common sense. 

The overall premise of this thriller was amazing and I really enjoyed it. The writing style was easy to read and it did keep me engaged. I loved the setting and imagined it as a Doc Martin (the PBS show) type town. I just became exhausted with Kate's behavior and overwhelmed trying to keep up with the residents. The ending was a twist and I was surprised with how it played out. The epilogue wasn't what I wanted, but we can't always get what we want!

"Find Me" is set to be released here in the U.S. on July 14, 2022 so preorder now to start reading tomorrow! 

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me an eARC to read and give my honest review. It was a 3.5 star read! 

Happy Reading!

 

"Her Last Goodbye" by Carla Kovach

 

Her small hands tremble and tears run down her cheeks. Shivering in the dark, damp storeroom, the little girl clutches her favourite toy dog. She cries out for help, but nobody answers. Her mother went missing last night and, as dawn breaks, there is still no sign of her.

Four-year-old Cleo shakes with fear as she tells the police that her mother, Darcie, was taken by a man on their way home last night. Darcie told Cleo to run and hide, and the last thing she saw was Darcie being pushed into the back of a car.

When police look into Darcie’s life, they discover a drunken argument with her best friend hours before she went missing, a dark figure seen loitering near where Cleo was found, and a recent assault allegation against a customer at Darcie’s work.

It seems like everyone around the young mother was keeping secrets, but Darcie had a dark secret of her own – one she hasn’t dared tell a soul.

Did Darcie’s deadly past finally catch up with her? And will she find the strength to fight for her life and keep her promise to return for her beloved daughter? ~taken from Goodreads

Another Gina Harte story to sink my teeth into! For those new here, the Gina Harte book series are divine and are great read together or can be read as stand alone books without being confusing to the reader. I was actually introduced to this series after a few books had already been published and I picked up on the storyline with no issues. 

This latest novel is about revenge. Someone from the far past has come back to terrorize a group of what were once high school friends. A woman is kidnapped, her small daughter left to run to safety through the dark woods, and a single finger is left to be found. 

Days later another woman goes missing, a friend to the first victim. Another finger left to be found. Detective Harte and her team seem to be running around in circles trying to figure out the who, where and why of the case. The hope is to find the women alive. They have to connect the dots before it's too late.

This is a multi-layered and multi-character story line that was unique, intriguing, and satisfying. I honestly has no idea who the villain was until the very end. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me an ARC to read and give my honest review. It was a 4 star crime thriller! 

"Her Last Goodbye" is out today here in the U.S. so get your copy in time for a good weekend read! 

You can also check out my other Kovach book reviews HERE.

Happy Reading!