28 June 2023

While I am new to this author, I was very excited about participating in this tour. I was immediately intrigued when I read the blurb and could not wait to start this book. This was a book that read in one day – which if you know me, you will know is a huge achievement. But I could not put this book down.

The story is gripping and keeps you guessing as you turn the pages.

Heidi Perks manages to quickly draw you into the lives of her characters and keeps you hooked right to the end. I loved the scenery in this story and had no problem visualising the beautiful setting – even though I have never been to Greece. The best part about this story was the details around Laila’s desperate need for motherhood. You can feel this woman’s longing as you turn the pages.

Laila and her husband arrive in Greece for a weeklong holiday. A holiday for them to reconnect and relook their future. However, Laila finds herself spending a lot of time on her own and her love of people-watching quickly has her closing observing a mother with her teenage boys. Laila quietly observes their family interactions. When tragedy strikes, Laila is sure she knows what happened. She is keen to do the right thing and struggles with the decision to tell Em what she knows. But what if she is wrong? She could potentially make life very difficult for Em.

This book grabs hold of you and refuses to let you go until you reach the last page. I was drawn to Laila and her desire to be a mother. The author did a fantastic job sharing this woman’s emotions.

Laila was a fantastic creation. Her marriage is struggling and she is determined to make sacrifices if that’s what it takes to save the marriage. She loves her husband and does not want to lose him. Her ‘obsession’ with Em and her family is a distraction and a way to fill the time when she is alone. The way her husband treated her was heartbreaking, leaving me wanting to tell her she deserves better. However, love can be blind and in Laila’s case that was very true.

This book was a brilliantly entertaining read that left me oblivious to the world around me. I am not sure when last I spent an entire day reading, and this was the perfect book for just that. Needless to say, this title sailed onto my top ten favourite books for the year.

If you are looking for a book that will keep you intrigued and the author shares the character’s emotions, then you will not want to miss this one. The author leaves you with the question of how far you would be prepared to go to protect your children. This book is well worth adding to your TBR, but be ready to read late into the night, you will not want to put this one down.