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The Perfect Suitor
Will he mend her broken heart? Or does he have a darker plan?
Three years after the tragic death of her wonderful husband, Charlene continues to mourn.
As she struggles to pick up the pieces of her shattered life, she meets Samuel. Handsome and educated, this charming man is the perfect suitor, and Charlene slowly lets her guard down and opens her heart to him.
But Samuel is not the man he appears to be. He has a dark compulsion. And an even darker secret.
When he begins acting strangely, Charlene suspects something is wrong. Her fears only grow when she notices she is being followed. Unsure whether she can really trust Samuel, Charlene takes matters into her own hands and starts to investigate.
What she finds is beyond her worst nightmares.
Will Charlene find the strength to confront the shocking truth before her life is shattered all over again?
The Perfect Suitor – the stunning psychological thriller perfect for fans of Mark Edwards, Cathryn Grant, Daniel Hurst.
Three years after the tragic death of her wonderful husband, Charlene continues to mourn.
As she struggles to pick up the pieces of her shattered life, she meets Samuel. Handsome and educated, this charming man is the perfect suitor, and Charlene slowly lets her guard down and opens her heart to him.
But Samuel is not the man he appears to be. He has a dark compulsion. And an even darker secret.
When he begins acting strangely, Charlene suspects something is wrong. Her fears only grow when she notices she is being followed. Unsure whether she can really trust Samuel, Charlene takes matters into her own hands and starts to investigate.
What she finds is beyond her worst nightmares.
Will Charlene find the strength to confront the shocking truth before her life is shattered all over again?
The Perfect Suitor – the stunning psychological thriller perfect for fans of Mark Edwards, Cathryn Grant, Daniel Hurst.
416 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 16, 2022
848 people are currently reading
623 people want to read
About the author
Cole Baxter
46 books370 followersCole Baxter loves writing psychological suspense thrillers. It's all about that last reveal that he loves shocking readers with.
He grew up in New York, where there crime was all around. He decided to turn that into something positive with his fiction.
His stories will have you reading through the night--they are very addictive!
Sign up for Cole's VIP Reader Club and find out about his latest releases, giveaways, and more. Copy and paste this link to sign up: http://eepurl.com/dqL8yT
He grew up in New York, where there crime was all around. He decided to turn that into something positive with his fiction.
His stories will have you reading through the night--they are very addictive!
Sign up for Cole's VIP Reader Club and find out about his latest releases, giveaways, and more. Copy and paste this link to sign up: http://eepurl.com/dqL8yT
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
August 15, 2024
Some favorite moments where the main characters intelligence really showed: ‘why do they even have condoms with taste’? Or ‘I think I’ll rather have desert’. The main character gets really confused since she hasn’t got any dessert in her house. She really, really annoyed me and everything just took forever to get anywhere.
March 25, 2022
BOOK TOUR REVIEW 🌟🌟🌟.5
It’s my day to review The Perfect Suitor by Cole Baxter! Thank you to Zooloos Book Tour for inviting me on this another great #booktour
Cole Baxter is talented at creating detailed and complex characters. The shocking prologue sucked me into the story and the characters kept me reading.
I read a lot of thrillers and I didn’t feel like this was a thriller. At least not the kind I crave. This was a slow-paced journey through life-changing events in Charlene’s life, with some suspenseful moments and mystery vibes.
After losing Christopher, the love of her life, Charlene falls into a crippling depression. She’s become a recluse and her life has no joy. Therapy isn’t proving successful.
Excerpt:
“The pain was so great that I had to wrap my hands around my chest to prevent that beating thing from shattering into pieces. That was what it felt like, that only skin and bones were holding it in place.”
But then she begins chatting with a stranger online. They share the same interests, he’s funny, and eventually, she agrees to meet in person. He’s luring her from her shell, but can Samual be as wonderful as he seems?
This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I would have enjoyed a shorter version and most of my predictions were accurate, so not many surprises for me. All-in-all, it was entertaining. Especially if you like character-driven slow burns.
#theperfectsuitor #colebaxter #Inkubatorbooks #ZooLoosBookTours #booktour #booktourreview #bookreview #tourreview #readwithme #bookaddict #thrillersofinstagram
#lovebooks #lovethrillers #readabook #ilovereading #booktour #booktourhost #darksecrets #usbookreviewer #honestreview
It’s my day to review The Perfect Suitor by Cole Baxter! Thank you to Zooloos Book Tour for inviting me on this another great #booktour
Cole Baxter is talented at creating detailed and complex characters. The shocking prologue sucked me into the story and the characters kept me reading.
I read a lot of thrillers and I didn’t feel like this was a thriller. At least not the kind I crave. This was a slow-paced journey through life-changing events in Charlene’s life, with some suspenseful moments and mystery vibes.
After losing Christopher, the love of her life, Charlene falls into a crippling depression. She’s become a recluse and her life has no joy. Therapy isn’t proving successful.
Excerpt:
“The pain was so great that I had to wrap my hands around my chest to prevent that beating thing from shattering into pieces. That was what it felt like, that only skin and bones were holding it in place.”
But then she begins chatting with a stranger online. They share the same interests, he’s funny, and eventually, she agrees to meet in person. He’s luring her from her shell, but can Samual be as wonderful as he seems?
This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I would have enjoyed a shorter version and most of my predictions were accurate, so not many surprises for me. All-in-all, it was entertaining. Especially if you like character-driven slow burns.
#theperfectsuitor #colebaxter #Inkubatorbooks #ZooLoosBookTours #booktour #booktourreview #bookreview #tourreview #readwithme #bookaddict #thrillersofinstagram
#lovebooks #lovethrillers #readabook #ilovereading #booktour #booktourhost #darksecrets #usbookreviewer #honestreview
March 29, 2022
I received a gifted copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Zooloos Book Tours.
The Perfect Suitor is a slow burn, character driven book about Charlene who's at an all-time low in her life after losing her beloved husband Christopher. Nothing brings her joy or happiness since his loss and therapy doesn't seem to be helping her in the slightest. After chatting to a stranger (Samuel) online, Charlene begins to feel a flicker of happiness, beginning to light within her. After some time of messaging and coaxing on Samuel's part, the two decide to meet. Samuel is fun to be around, has similar interests to Charlene, and seems to be a salve to her grief - but is he who he makes out to be, and can she truly trust him?
This is more of a suspenseful read than a thriller, but I still enjoyed it!
The Perfect Suitor is a slow burn, character driven book about Charlene who's at an all-time low in her life after losing her beloved husband Christopher. Nothing brings her joy or happiness since his loss and therapy doesn't seem to be helping her in the slightest. After chatting to a stranger (Samuel) online, Charlene begins to feel a flicker of happiness, beginning to light within her. After some time of messaging and coaxing on Samuel's part, the two decide to meet. Samuel is fun to be around, has similar interests to Charlene, and seems to be a salve to her grief - but is he who he makes out to be, and can she truly trust him?
This is more of a suspenseful read than a thriller, but I still enjoyed it!
March 10, 2022
(Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for a honest review)
Publication date: 16 March 2022
Publisher: Inkubator Books
Plot
Charlene is in a happy marriage with her husband, Christopher. Until he died and her world shattered.
While unable to get over the past she meets Samuel, a delightful, well-educated and charming man and over time Charlene gradually lowers her walls and lets him in. After a few alarming incidents between Samuel and herself, she starts to have suspicions and her trust in Samuel decreases. The suspicions increase and what she discovers is not expected.
Thoughts
This was my first book from Cole Baxter. I really liked the cover too, it's why I requested for the ARC.
The start got me hooked but then it died down in the middle and towards the end it picked up again. The book felt too long and the story could have finished definitely faster.
I could understand Charlene's grief but I could not stand how naive she was. She portrayed herself as someone who could be walked over and I thought being in the circumstances that she was in, she should have been a little more assertive.
Though, I felt that it was a book well focused on the main characters. There were supporting characters but they didn't overwhelm the story. I would say the end was mainly unpredictable and it increased the overall rating. Overall, it was readable.
Publication date: 16 March 2022
Publisher: Inkubator Books
Plot
Charlene is in a happy marriage with her husband, Christopher. Until he died and her world shattered.
While unable to get over the past she meets Samuel, a delightful, well-educated and charming man and over time Charlene gradually lowers her walls and lets him in. After a few alarming incidents between Samuel and herself, she starts to have suspicions and her trust in Samuel decreases. The suspicions increase and what she discovers is not expected.
Thoughts
This was my first book from Cole Baxter. I really liked the cover too, it's why I requested for the ARC.
The start got me hooked but then it died down in the middle and towards the end it picked up again. The book felt too long and the story could have finished definitely faster.
I could understand Charlene's grief but I could not stand how naive she was. She portrayed herself as someone who could be walked over and I thought being in the circumstances that she was in, she should have been a little more assertive.
Though, I felt that it was a book well focused on the main characters. There were supporting characters but they didn't overwhelm the story. I would say the end was mainly unpredictable and it increased the overall rating. Overall, it was readable.
March 16, 2022
This is my first book by Cole Baxter and I have to say I wasn't enamoured by it. The premise promised something a little more intriguing than what was actually delivered. The first two thirds of the book or so reads more like a bad romance than a thriller and I really wasn't interested in Charlene's erotic dreams of fantasies about a man she had barely met...only to have them play out in reality a short time later. On repeat. Did I pick up a psychological thriller or a Mills and Boon? Sometimes I had to wonder.
To be honest, I found the book to be so badly written I wanted to give up by 30%...but I persevered because, after reading a couple other reviews, it was promised to get better with an ending to make up for the rest of it. I'm sorry to say, that was not the case. I predicted most of what was to come it was so blindingly obvious and usually predictability doesn't detract from my enjoyment, but coupled with everything else bad about this book, it was just another to add to the list of what was wrong with it.
I wanted to like this book. I stuck it out to the end in the hope that it did indeed get better. But the characters were all completely unlikeable. Charlene was so completely and stupidly naive and if she wasn't that then she was droning on and on about her dead husband and refusing to leave the house ever again. But then she just swapped her dependency on her grief for him to her lust for Samuel. And if that wasn't enough...the whole thing was just so completely drawn out it was ridiculous.
What promised to be an intriguing thriller was anything but, and I wish I had given up at 30% rather than lose sleep by continuing with it in the hope it got better. And if Charlene's actions weren't so naive or stupid throughout pretty much the entire book, then it is obvious that she learnt nothing from her experience by the end.
Sorry...I'm going to be brutally honest here, but my advice is to just move along, nothing to see here.
I would like to thank #ColeBaxter, #Netgalley, #InkubatorBooks and #ZoolooTours for an ARC of #ThePerfectSuitor in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
To be honest, I found the book to be so badly written I wanted to give up by 30%...but I persevered because, after reading a couple other reviews, it was promised to get better with an ending to make up for the rest of it. I'm sorry to say, that was not the case. I predicted most of what was to come it was so blindingly obvious and usually predictability doesn't detract from my enjoyment, but coupled with everything else bad about this book, it was just another to add to the list of what was wrong with it.
I wanted to like this book. I stuck it out to the end in the hope that it did indeed get better. But the characters were all completely unlikeable. Charlene was so completely and stupidly naive and if she wasn't that then she was droning on and on about her dead husband and refusing to leave the house ever again. But then she just swapped her dependency on her grief for him to her lust for Samuel. And if that wasn't enough...the whole thing was just so completely drawn out it was ridiculous.
What promised to be an intriguing thriller was anything but, and I wish I had given up at 30% rather than lose sleep by continuing with it in the hope it got better. And if Charlene's actions weren't so naive or stupid throughout pretty much the entire book, then it is obvious that she learnt nothing from her experience by the end.
Sorry...I'm going to be brutally honest here, but my advice is to just move along, nothing to see here.
I would like to thank #ColeBaxter, #Netgalley, #InkubatorBooks and #ZoolooTours for an ARC of #ThePerfectSuitor in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
dnf
December 11, 2023This book is terrible so I’m not finishing it. Halfway through and I am done.
March 26, 2022
As Charlene grieved the loss of her husband, I felt for her. However, she was naive and it turned into a bad romance. Samuel was a horrible character and was only after Charlene's money; she should have seen through him, but it gave the story a thriller aspect. Her story is a survivor's tale. Despite the odds, she fights back. Despite her depression and all the other challenges she is facing. I was surprised by the twist, it kept me interested. After the happy ending, she falls into another romance despite still being naive. It had me scratching my head in confusion.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2022
Just a heads up. This is an extremely slow sllllllooooow book without much suspense.
August 2, 2022
I did enjoy parts of the story and really felt for the characters but over all the book seemed to drag on in a lot of parts and the suspense just wasn't really there. It wasn't a bad read but it was not as I expected and so it did leave me a bit disappointed. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 17, 2022
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'The Perfect Suitor' by Cole Baxter.
Read and reviewed for ZooLoos Book Tours, Cole Baxter and Inkubator Books.
Publication date 16th March 2022.
This is the first book I have read by this author.
I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching beautiful cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated 'The Perfect Suitor – the stunning psychological thriller perfect for fans of Mark Edwards, Cathryn Grant, Daniel Hurst.' I am a huge fan of Mark Edwards so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Inkubator Books. I have yet to read a book published by Inkubator Books that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of a prologue and 40 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in New York, USA 🇺🇸.
This book is written in first person perspective and the main protagonist is Charlene Bell. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. If there are several protagonists you also get to see more of what is going on.
WOW!!! I WAS NOT EXPECTING THAT TWIST!!!
This book is extremely well written with vivid descriptions that really set the scene and put you in the storyline. The cover and synopsis suit the book perfectly.
The storyline was captivating from the first page until the last and I was completely invested in it. It was absolutely rammed full of romance, deceit, heartbreak, tension, twists, suspense and everything you could ask for in a page turning psychological thriller. I just could not put this book down and finished it in one sitting. The storyline is sadly very realistic, I won't go into it in too much detail as I don't want to spoil it for future readers. The way it was written genuinely felt like I was siting next to Charlene while she was telling me her story over a cup of tea. I loved the fact that it was set in New York and I really enjoyed exploring different areas with Charlene by my side. The book began with a shock and ends in another one and I would absolutely love to see this turned into a movie. This may be the first book I have read by Cole Baxter but it most certainly won't be my last!!!
Do not start this book until you have cleared your schedules as you will not be able to put it down!!
The characters were all realistic and strong and I was completely invested in Charlene throughout. My heart went out to her time after time as she went through so much tragedy and heartbreak and I really hope that she finally finds happiness. I absolutely loved watching her go from a heartbroken, soul destroyed hermit to a strong independent woman who absolutely kicked butt!! It is also nice to see a male author getting a female character "right" without all the typical female descriptions and characteristics I've seen many male authors use, if your female reading this then I'm sure you understand what I mean! I didn't trust certain characters at all and I was correct not to but another one absolutely hit me out of the blue and I was not expecting that from them at all!! I won't say more than that as I don't want to give too much away. Regardless of what I thought about who, each character worked perfectly to make this page turning psychological thriller!!!
Congratulations Cole on a huge success and I would like to welcome you to my favourite male author list 🥂 I am off to add all your past books to my wish list and I'm looking forward to your future ones too 😊
Overall an absolutely unputdownable psychological thriller with an explosive twist!!
Genres covered in this book include Psychological Thriller, Mystery and Psychological Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Mark Edwards, Cathryn Grant, Daniel Hurst and anyone looking for an explosive psychological thriller with a shocking twist!!!
390 pages.
This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle or free on kindle unlimited (at time of review) via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#ThePerfectSuitor #ColeBaxter #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour #ZooLoosBookTours #InkubatorBooks
@ColeBaxter @ZooLoosBT @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86 @inkubatorbooks
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...
https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__...)
Review for 'The Perfect Suitor' by Cole Baxter.
Read and reviewed for ZooLoos Book Tours, Cole Baxter and Inkubator Books.
Publication date 16th March 2022.
This is the first book I have read by this author.
I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching beautiful cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated 'The Perfect Suitor – the stunning psychological thriller perfect for fans of Mark Edwards, Cathryn Grant, Daniel Hurst.' I am a huge fan of Mark Edwards so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Inkubator Books. I have yet to read a book published by Inkubator Books that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of a prologue and 40 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in New York, USA 🇺🇸.
This book is written in first person perspective and the main protagonist is Charlene Bell. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. If there are several protagonists you also get to see more of what is going on.
WOW!!! I WAS NOT EXPECTING THAT TWIST!!!
This book is extremely well written with vivid descriptions that really set the scene and put you in the storyline. The cover and synopsis suit the book perfectly.
The storyline was captivating from the first page until the last and I was completely invested in it. It was absolutely rammed full of romance, deceit, heartbreak, tension, twists, suspense and everything you could ask for in a page turning psychological thriller. I just could not put this book down and finished it in one sitting. The storyline is sadly very realistic, I won't go into it in too much detail as I don't want to spoil it for future readers. The way it was written genuinely felt like I was siting next to Charlene while she was telling me her story over a cup of tea. I loved the fact that it was set in New York and I really enjoyed exploring different areas with Charlene by my side. The book began with a shock and ends in another one and I would absolutely love to see this turned into a movie. This may be the first book I have read by Cole Baxter but it most certainly won't be my last!!!
Do not start this book until you have cleared your schedules as you will not be able to put it down!!
The characters were all realistic and strong and I was completely invested in Charlene throughout. My heart went out to her time after time as she went through so much tragedy and heartbreak and I really hope that she finally finds happiness. I absolutely loved watching her go from a heartbroken, soul destroyed hermit to a strong independent woman who absolutely kicked butt!! It is also nice to see a male author getting a female character "right" without all the typical female descriptions and characteristics I've seen many male authors use, if your female reading this then I'm sure you understand what I mean! I didn't trust certain characters at all and I was correct not to but another one absolutely hit me out of the blue and I was not expecting that from them at all!! I won't say more than that as I don't want to give too much away. Regardless of what I thought about who, each character worked perfectly to make this page turning psychological thriller!!!
Congratulations Cole on a huge success and I would like to welcome you to my favourite male author list 🥂 I am off to add all your past books to my wish list and I'm looking forward to your future ones too 😊
Overall an absolutely unputdownable psychological thriller with an explosive twist!!
Genres covered in this book include Psychological Thriller, Mystery and Psychological Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Mark Edwards, Cathryn Grant, Daniel Hurst and anyone looking for an explosive psychological thriller with a shocking twist!!!
390 pages.
This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle or free on kindle unlimited (at time of review) via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#ThePerfectSuitor #ColeBaxter #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour #ZooLoosBookTours #InkubatorBooks
@ColeBaxter @ZooLoosBT @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86 @inkubatorbooks
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...
https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__...)
March 18, 2022
Charlene Bell has been blaming herself for a broken heart and the death of her husband Christopher some three years ago. She has become a recluse, staying in the home they bought together ever since and never going out. She sees a therapist over the phone or video calls and the only friend she has, Selina, is someone she met online. She has issues with her actual family, a mother, stepfather and step sister, with her mother having always blamed her for how her life turned out, simply by being born. When her birth father actually died, he must have had a grain of regret and named her as one of his heirs, leaving her a small inheritance. Small from his estate viewpoint, but worth a good eight million to her, leaving her financially stable, able to pay the mortgage off and not have to ever work. Her mother resented her for getting money and tried to get it off her, saying she wasn’t fit because of her grief to look after it and herself! All three of them constantly ask her for money and try other ways of getting something from her. She is isolated and alone, but thinks that is what should be happening, so she can think of Christopher and never forget him. She can lie in bed all day, cry when she wants and order in anything she needs.
When she gets a friend request online from a stranger, Samuel, she eventually accepts it because she likes the picture he uses instead of his own portrait. She starts texting and talking to him online, and it seems they have lots in common and he is someone she can share her love of art with. She slowly lets her guard down, but makes it obvious that she is not looking for anything but friendship with him. She checks him out on his social media page and finds images of a handsome and well educated man. They finally start talking on the phone and he asks her out for dinner, not as a date, but as a friend and she actually surprises herself by accepting. When he comes for her, she finally gets to see him in the flesh and he is even better looking in person. It doesn’t take long until she begins to fall for him and allow herself to start to a new relationship. He encourages her to buy lots of things, such as expensive jewellery and art, but it soon seems like all of their dates are to high class auctions and galleries, rather than time together alone or somewhere private. He only ever stays over at her house, she has no idea where his work or home actually are. What secrets is he actually hiding from her? There is something off about his constant pushing for her to buy more stuff and starts to act a bit strangely. He doesn’t accept her feelings about being on show or making comments about her money, which he seems to think is more than she actually has. He also seems to be looking around her home late at night when she is sleeping and is unhappy she doesn’t leave her new purchases out and about in her home, brightening up her home.
He has dark secrets and is after more than she thinks. She becomes somewhat suspicious of him and the secrets he is keeping form her, but even she couldn’t guess the full extent of what he is hiding! She starts to worry that someone is following her, but they run away every time she tries to face them. She needs help, but can’t go to anyone she already knows, to help investigate this man that has stolen her heart and what danger he is bringing to her life. What can she believe, when her therapist sounds worried about his recent behaviour, but he is happy for her to sack them? Who exactly is telling her the truth? The ending of the book ramps up the action and intrigue, with you left wondering who to believe and who might be behind everything that is happening. I loved the extra chapter at the end, which gives Charlene a new lease of life and finally something she truly deserves, but for which she has had to go through a whole range of challenges and shocking experiences. A great ending and a main character who grows out of her grief and co-dependency, to finally find true love. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
When she gets a friend request online from a stranger, Samuel, she eventually accepts it because she likes the picture he uses instead of his own portrait. She starts texting and talking to him online, and it seems they have lots in common and he is someone she can share her love of art with. She slowly lets her guard down, but makes it obvious that she is not looking for anything but friendship with him. She checks him out on his social media page and finds images of a handsome and well educated man. They finally start talking on the phone and he asks her out for dinner, not as a date, but as a friend and she actually surprises herself by accepting. When he comes for her, she finally gets to see him in the flesh and he is even better looking in person. It doesn’t take long until she begins to fall for him and allow herself to start to a new relationship. He encourages her to buy lots of things, such as expensive jewellery and art, but it soon seems like all of their dates are to high class auctions and galleries, rather than time together alone or somewhere private. He only ever stays over at her house, she has no idea where his work or home actually are. What secrets is he actually hiding from her? There is something off about his constant pushing for her to buy more stuff and starts to act a bit strangely. He doesn’t accept her feelings about being on show or making comments about her money, which he seems to think is more than she actually has. He also seems to be looking around her home late at night when she is sleeping and is unhappy she doesn’t leave her new purchases out and about in her home, brightening up her home.
He has dark secrets and is after more than she thinks. She becomes somewhat suspicious of him and the secrets he is keeping form her, but even she couldn’t guess the full extent of what he is hiding! She starts to worry that someone is following her, but they run away every time she tries to face them. She needs help, but can’t go to anyone she already knows, to help investigate this man that has stolen her heart and what danger he is bringing to her life. What can she believe, when her therapist sounds worried about his recent behaviour, but he is happy for her to sack them? Who exactly is telling her the truth? The ending of the book ramps up the action and intrigue, with you left wondering who to believe and who might be behind everything that is happening. I loved the extra chapter at the end, which gives Charlene a new lease of life and finally something she truly deserves, but for which she has had to go through a whole range of challenges and shocking experiences. A great ending and a main character who grows out of her grief and co-dependency, to finally find true love. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
March 1, 2022
First, I’d like to thank the author, Inkubator Books and NetGalley for allowing me early access to this book. I will be perfectly honest, up until nearly the end, I thought my rating was going to be very different. But the final twist really surprised me and drastically improved my opinion of the whole story. It helped tie up some things that I had had issues with earlier in the story. There were still a few things that could have been improved, but overall I really enjoyed the book. I liked the main character and while she fell into some of the usual traps for a narrator of this type of story, it never seemed unbelievable or unforgivable. I also like that the author gave us a peek into her future at the end of the book.
Now to address the negatives in a bit more depth. The biggest issue I had was the pacing. Both the first and second thirds of the book drug on far too long. The first part felt more like a poorly written romance novel than the lead-up to a mystery/thriller. And the main character became far too wishy-washy in the second part. While that became more understandable to the end, I do still think it could have been shortened a bit. I will say though, once things really got going in the 3rd act, the pacing was perfect.
The other two negatives that I really noticed were smaller, but still glaring enough to take me out of the store. One I believe may have been an editing error that created a bit of plot hole. The main character references having read a news article about a side character in the story years prior and then in the next scene she no longer has that knowledge(sorry for being vague, trying to avoid spoilers). The other problem came in one of the last chapters. A character is referenced as being “posthumously convicted” which is not a thing given the fact that this book is set in the United States.
Now to address the negatives in a bit more depth. The biggest issue I had was the pacing. Both the first and second thirds of the book drug on far too long. The first part felt more like a poorly written romance novel than the lead-up to a mystery/thriller. And the main character became far too wishy-washy in the second part. While that became more understandable to the end, I do still think it could have been shortened a bit. I will say though, once things really got going in the 3rd act, the pacing was perfect.
The other two negatives that I really noticed were smaller, but still glaring enough to take me out of the store. One I believe may have been an editing error that created a bit of plot hole. The main character references having read a news article about a side character in the story years prior and then in the next scene she no longer has that knowledge(sorry for being vague, trying to avoid spoilers). The other problem came in one of the last chapters. A character is referenced as being “posthumously convicted” which is not a thing given the fact that this book is set in the United States.
March 8, 2022
This was an enjoyable book and I devoured it in one sitting however the only reason I kept going in the first two thirds was that I really enjoy Cole Baxter books. I really wanted to shake Charlene and tell her to wake up and smell the roses. The last third got so much better and it made up for the beginning as I knew it would do.
I was given an advance copy by inkubater books and booksprout but the review is entirely my own.
I was given an advance copy by inkubater books and booksprout but the review is entirely my own.
March 14, 2022
I gotta be brutally honest with this one...
This is just so badly written that I gave up less than halfway through. There is no depth to the characters or the storyline. Everything is told just as it is, with no nuance or illustration. It reads like a middle schooler wrote it. It's cringey. The characters are not likeable. There's not really a redeeming quality here for me.
This is just so badly written that I gave up less than halfway through. There is no depth to the characters or the storyline. Everything is told just as it is, with no nuance or illustration. It reads like a middle schooler wrote it. It's cringey. The characters are not likeable. There's not really a redeeming quality here for me.
June 5, 2022
The Perfect Suitor by Cole Baxter follows Charlene, a woman who is reeling from the tragic death of her husband during a trip to Cairo. Three years after the traumatic event, she leads a secluded life in her home, getting everything she can delivered, and avoiding her toxic family’s phone calls. Her two links to the world outside are her therapist Dr. Neal and her best friend Selina, whom she has yet to meet in person. Every day is a struggle for Charlene to go through the daily motions, burdened by her grief and guilt.
Then she receives a friend request from the mysterious Samuel, who slowly and patiently gets under her skin and becomes a part of her life. He draws her out of the house and makes her feel wanted and appreciated. However, she begins to notice some patterns in his behavior that disturb her and hint at the possibility that Samuel’s intentions may not be entirely honest. From that point on, she begins her search for the truth, going through every possibility that occurs to her and carefully observing Samuel’s behavior.
Charlene’s grief is described convincingly, and reading about her healing process is interesting. Having a first-person narrator who is struggling and constantly questions herself can be somewhat claustrophobic, as the reader is stuck with their unfiltered thoughts. It may either come across as raw and relatable, or as too much of a slow burn, depending on the reader’s preferences and their mood. In this particular novel, the line between the two is very fine; on the one hand, there is enough material for speculation and for guessing along with Charlene, but on the other hand, we follow her way too closely and her detailed exposition of all that she feels and thinks as it occurs to her can be a little suffocating at times. It can become a little frustrating as Charlene doggedly moves from theory to theory, because the reader may not necessarily always follow her reasoning and entertain the possible solutions to the mystery in the order that she does. Again, on the flipside, when done well, this manner of writing creates a satisfactory tension between what the reader knows or thinks they know and the reality of the character’s situation. In the end, there is a sense of curiosity that motivates the reader to keep sorting through Charlene’s impressions and form their own version of the truth.
Agent Aubrey’s way of talking is somewhat irritating, and the role he plays towards the end of the novel isn’t completely convincing. It would have been nice to see a little bit more of Selina and her friendship with Charlene throughout the book. The reveal at the end is powerful even if it may seem somewhat delayed, and there are several scenes that are quite exciting and action-packed.
Then she receives a friend request from the mysterious Samuel, who slowly and patiently gets under her skin and becomes a part of her life. He draws her out of the house and makes her feel wanted and appreciated. However, she begins to notice some patterns in his behavior that disturb her and hint at the possibility that Samuel’s intentions may not be entirely honest. From that point on, she begins her search for the truth, going through every possibility that occurs to her and carefully observing Samuel’s behavior.
Charlene’s grief is described convincingly, and reading about her healing process is interesting. Having a first-person narrator who is struggling and constantly questions herself can be somewhat claustrophobic, as the reader is stuck with their unfiltered thoughts. It may either come across as raw and relatable, or as too much of a slow burn, depending on the reader’s preferences and their mood. In this particular novel, the line between the two is very fine; on the one hand, there is enough material for speculation and for guessing along with Charlene, but on the other hand, we follow her way too closely and her detailed exposition of all that she feels and thinks as it occurs to her can be a little suffocating at times. It can become a little frustrating as Charlene doggedly moves from theory to theory, because the reader may not necessarily always follow her reasoning and entertain the possible solutions to the mystery in the order that she does. Again, on the flipside, when done well, this manner of writing creates a satisfactory tension between what the reader knows or thinks they know and the reality of the character’s situation. In the end, there is a sense of curiosity that motivates the reader to keep sorting through Charlene’s impressions and form their own version of the truth.
Agent Aubrey’s way of talking is somewhat irritating, and the role he plays towards the end of the novel isn’t completely convincing. It would have been nice to see a little bit more of Selina and her friendship with Charlene throughout the book. The reveal at the end is powerful even if it may seem somewhat delayed, and there are several scenes that are quite exciting and action-packed.
December 12, 2023
First book by Cole Baxter
Shaking my head how naive Charlene was...
Is she a blonde? No offense to the blonde's of the world but this one here is straight up "air headish" . I thought I got a thriller to read but instead it was more like some big romance story gone wrong let me make it a thriller.
This gal here was so worried about how good the sex was with Samuel that she seemed to overlook real life activities.
To be honest she should have caught on after the first auction; she walks down stairs and sees Samuel mysteriously in her kitchen roaming around, waking up and he is not there, the phone call of a robbery and staying gone. And than Taking
and pressuring her to buy expensive jewelry, always talking about the money she has.
Than he getting upset she does not keep the belongings out to display.
The best thing she did was not share the code to the save, I am surprised the author did not throw that in there, "you should just give me the code incase something happens"
There were certain parts that were page turners but than there were some that you wanted to skip. Roll your eyes and move on. The more it went on the more it became obvious. Cole, made certain parts where you could think it was the friend or the mother, but it was straight up OBVIOUS who it was.
If you are looking for a thriller romance this one is for you. If you are looking for straight thriller pass.
**Personally, I usually do not leave reviews but this one here deserves a review.. 🙄
Shaking my head how naive Charlene was...
Is she a blonde? No offense to the blonde's of the world but this one here is straight up "air headish" . I thought I got a thriller to read but instead it was more like some big romance story gone wrong let me make it a thriller.
This gal here was so worried about how good the sex was with Samuel that she seemed to overlook real life activities.
To be honest she should have caught on after the first auction; she walks down stairs and sees Samuel mysteriously in her kitchen roaming around, waking up and he is not there, the phone call of a robbery and staying gone. And than Taking
and pressuring her to buy expensive jewelry, always talking about the money she has.
Than he getting upset she does not keep the belongings out to display.
The best thing she did was not share the code to the save, I am surprised the author did not throw that in there, "you should just give me the code incase something happens"
There were certain parts that were page turners but than there were some that you wanted to skip. Roll your eyes and move on. The more it went on the more it became obvious. Cole, made certain parts where you could think it was the friend or the mother, but it was straight up OBVIOUS who it was.
If you are looking for a thriller romance this one is for you. If you are looking for straight thriller pass.
**Personally, I usually do not leave reviews but this one here deserves a review.. 🙄
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2022
I had a dilemma when reading this book. Was it a romance or was it a thriller. I suppose there is no reason why it couldn’t be both. A romantic thriller is probably the best description. Charlene’s beloved husband Christopher was murdered in front of her and she blames herself to such an extent she has spent three years locked away, in therapy, mourning him. We read a lot about Charlene’s mental state in the first part of the book. Too much? That would be a decision for each reader. The only people Charlene speaks to are her therapist, Dr Neal and her best, online friend, Selina. Enter Samuel, tall, dark, handsome, rich, charismatic, weird Samuel. I’m not giving anything away here as we know from the very beginning there is something not quite right about Samuel. What Charlene has to decide is how much is in her head and how much is actually off.
This could not be described as a fast paced thriller but it is thrilling and reading huge amounts about Charlene’s mental processes is helpful in understanding why she acts as she does. To some she would be seem to be naïve and slightly crazy but how many of us have had to process such a tragedy without support from family and friends. The family we find out about. I’m not sure why she only has one friend in the whole world, who she has never actually met.
I actually did not trust anyone in Charlene’s life but whether I was right or not is revealed at the very dramatic end.
This could not be described as a fast paced thriller but it is thrilling and reading huge amounts about Charlene’s mental processes is helpful in understanding why she acts as she does. To some she would be seem to be naïve and slightly crazy but how many of us have had to process such a tragedy without support from family and friends. The family we find out about. I’m not sure why she only has one friend in the whole world, who she has never actually met.
I actually did not trust anyone in Charlene’s life but whether I was right or not is revealed at the very dramatic end.
July 29, 2022
Will he mend her broken heart? Or does he have a darker plan?
Three years after the tragic death of her wonderful husband, Charlene continues to mourn.
As she struggles to pick up the pieces of her shattered life, she meets Samuel. Handsome and educated, this charming man is the perfect suitor, and Charlene slowly lets her guard down and opens her heart to him.
But Samuel is not the man he appears to be. He has a dark compulsion. And an even darker secret.
When he begins acting strangely, Charlene suspects something is wrong. Her fears only grow when she notices she is being followed. Unsure whether she can really trust Samuel, Charlene takes matters into her own hands and starts to investigate.
What she finds is beyond her worst nightmares.
Will Charlene find the strength to confront the shocking truth before her life is shattered all over again?
We follow Charlene through the book as her life gets turned upside down in the worst ways. I found myself almost shouting out loud as I read the book, kind of incredulous that Charlene didn't see any warning signs like I did. At first this frustrated me but as I read on, it became clear that it was just good character development.
I enjoyed how we were in Charlene's head as well as in her life. It have a good insight to her feelings and motives.
Three years after the tragic death of her wonderful husband, Charlene continues to mourn.
As she struggles to pick up the pieces of her shattered life, she meets Samuel. Handsome and educated, this charming man is the perfect suitor, and Charlene slowly lets her guard down and opens her heart to him.
But Samuel is not the man he appears to be. He has a dark compulsion. And an even darker secret.
When he begins acting strangely, Charlene suspects something is wrong. Her fears only grow when she notices she is being followed. Unsure whether she can really trust Samuel, Charlene takes matters into her own hands and starts to investigate.
What she finds is beyond her worst nightmares.
Will Charlene find the strength to confront the shocking truth before her life is shattered all over again?
We follow Charlene through the book as her life gets turned upside down in the worst ways. I found myself almost shouting out loud as I read the book, kind of incredulous that Charlene didn't see any warning signs like I did. At first this frustrated me but as I read on, it became clear that it was just good character development.
I enjoyed how we were in Charlene's head as well as in her life. It have a good insight to her feelings and motives.
November 22, 2023
📚Book Review📚
The Perfect Suitor by Coke Baxter
Book132/23 was 3⭐️!
This girl wouldn’t know a 🚩 Red Flag 🚩 if it was constantly waving in front of her face. Oh wait… it was, and she still missed all the signs! 🤦🏼♀️
🚩This book drove me more mad than anything🚩
After getting married and losing her husband to a robbery on the streets during their honeymoon, Charlene is at a loss. As she struggles through therapy and trying to pick up the pieces of her life, she slowly begins to let her guard down. Over time, she opens her heart to a handsome and educated man. However, looks can be deceiving.
What happens when Samuel uses his well-educated mind (and Charlene’s family inheritance) to con Charlene into blowing all her money on items “she will need” and items which will “turn her a fortune”?
Honestly, Charlene is a dumba$$. I feel like any modern-day woman, with half a brain, would see what he was trying to do. So, this book and her character aggravated me 😵💫🤷🏼♀️
However, there was a nice ending I wasn’t expecting. As for recommending? This is a take it or leave it kinda book. It’s not a complete waste of time, but it also doesn’t have the twists, turns, and unexpected revelations I enjoy in a book!
As always,
Happy Reading! 💕
The Perfect Suitor by Coke Baxter
Book132/23 was 3⭐️!
This girl wouldn’t know a 🚩 Red Flag 🚩 if it was constantly waving in front of her face. Oh wait… it was, and she still missed all the signs! 🤦🏼♀️
🚩This book drove me more mad than anything🚩
After getting married and losing her husband to a robbery on the streets during their honeymoon, Charlene is at a loss. As she struggles through therapy and trying to pick up the pieces of her life, she slowly begins to let her guard down. Over time, she opens her heart to a handsome and educated man. However, looks can be deceiving.
What happens when Samuel uses his well-educated mind (and Charlene’s family inheritance) to con Charlene into blowing all her money on items “she will need” and items which will “turn her a fortune”?
Honestly, Charlene is a dumba$$. I feel like any modern-day woman, with half a brain, would see what he was trying to do. So, this book and her character aggravated me 😵💫🤷🏼♀️
However, there was a nice ending I wasn’t expecting. As for recommending? This is a take it or leave it kinda book. It’s not a complete waste of time, but it also doesn’t have the twists, turns, and unexpected revelations I enjoy in a book!
As always,
Happy Reading! 💕
March 24, 2022
I loved the premise of this book. Charlene is massively depressed after the violent and senseless death of her husband, so much that she's basically a shut-in. The only contact she has with the outside world is her therapist and an online girlfriend. But then she's contacted via social media by someone who shares her interest in art. With encouragement from her therapist, Charlene goes on a date with Samuel and the two hit it off so much, that Charlene (almost) forgets about her husband. And to top it off, he's good-looking, wealthy and dotes on her. Maybe a little too much....
However, Charlene comes across as really naïve, vacillating between trusting and not trusting Samuel's motivation. Which is probably more realistic than we, the omniscient readers, would think. Once she commits to having him investigated, she metaphorically pats herself on the back. But the twist can be seen a mile away. Even knowing what was going to happen, I still found the writing tense and suspenseful and I am grateful to NetGalley, Inkubator Books and Booksprout for an advance reader's copy.
However, Charlene comes across as really naïve, vacillating between trusting and not trusting Samuel's motivation. Which is probably more realistic than we, the omniscient readers, would think. Once she commits to having him investigated, she metaphorically pats herself on the back. But the twist can be seen a mile away. Even knowing what was going to happen, I still found the writing tense and suspenseful and I am grateful to NetGalley, Inkubator Books and Booksprout for an advance reader's copy.
March 29, 2022
Thank you ZooLoos Book Tours for a gifted copy of this book, and a stop on the recent book tour, in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
Whilst grieving for the loss of her husband, Charlene starts to look online for companionship. I’m not sure if it was the author’s intention but the man that enters her life displays solid red flag behaviors from the very beginning and I was surprised that Charlene didn’t see these. Perhaps her depression was clouding her judgment, but even so I found her to be slightly frustrating.
As a fan of this genre, I was left a little deflated, however if you are new to thrillers this would make an ideal beginning read. I was able to predict the conclusion which did dampen the twisty ending that I was expecting.
Despite these comments, I haven’t been put off from picking up future work by this author. This wasn’t an awful read, it was just too predictable and disheartening for my personal preferences. An average, mediocre 3 star read, that maybe a great read for some one else!
Whilst grieving for the loss of her husband, Charlene starts to look online for companionship. I’m not sure if it was the author’s intention but the man that enters her life displays solid red flag behaviors from the very beginning and I was surprised that Charlene didn’t see these. Perhaps her depression was clouding her judgment, but even so I found her to be slightly frustrating.
As a fan of this genre, I was left a little deflated, however if you are new to thrillers this would make an ideal beginning read. I was able to predict the conclusion which did dampen the twisty ending that I was expecting.
Despite these comments, I haven’t been put off from picking up future work by this author. This wasn’t an awful read, it was just too predictable and disheartening for my personal preferences. An average, mediocre 3 star read, that maybe a great read for some one else!
April 7, 2022
The Perfect Suitor by Cole Baxter is the second psych thriller I have read in the past week that bills itself as one thing but turns out to be more like something else. Still good, just not what I expected. It is certainly more suspense than psych. the prologue is pretty much a completely separate event that only serves to set the frame of mind for Charlene. Of course, like a good thriller there are additional questions and influences, and there may (or may not) be another reason for the prologue. You’ll have to read the book to find out. Because of the situation she finds herself in, I believe that we are supposed to feel sorry for Charlene. Sympathy is the emotion that was evoked. But I didn’t feel it. I found the passages of her self-pity, uncertainty, and hopelessness to be long and tiresome. However, Charlene’s growth as she becomes stronger and more aware is very well done. For more details, please visit Fireflies and Free Kicks. This review was written based on a digital copy of the book from Inkubator Books.
May 3, 2022
After losing her husband Christopher while on a holiday in Egypt, Charlene spirals into a deep depression. Three years later, she's still grieving. Although she's a wealthy heiress, thanks to her estranged father, she prefers to stay home and lives a reclusive life.
Only her online friend Selina and online appointments with her therapist keep Charlene in touch with the outside world. That is, until she gets a Facebook friend request from a handsome stranger and finds herself accepting. Samuel is handsome, intelligent and chivalrous. And although she still thinks of Christopher, it's not long before Samuel begins replacing him in Charlene's fantasies.
But is Samuel as perfect as he seems to be? What secrets is he hiding? And can Charlene really trust anybody?
I don't say this often but I struggled to finish this book. It was slow-paced and I was frustrated with Charlene's naivety and reluctance to accept the many obvious red flags that certain characters presented.
This is the first time I've rated a book one star on Goodreads and I really hope it's the last.
Only her online friend Selina and online appointments with her therapist keep Charlene in touch with the outside world. That is, until she gets a Facebook friend request from a handsome stranger and finds herself accepting. Samuel is handsome, intelligent and chivalrous. And although she still thinks of Christopher, it's not long before Samuel begins replacing him in Charlene's fantasies.
But is Samuel as perfect as he seems to be? What secrets is he hiding? And can Charlene really trust anybody?
I don't say this often but I struggled to finish this book. It was slow-paced and I was frustrated with Charlene's naivety and reluctance to accept the many obvious red flags that certain characters presented.
This is the first time I've rated a book one star on Goodreads and I really hope it's the last.
January 2, 2025
Ms Cole is an absolute wonderful aurhor.
She is totally engaging in her prose and I absolutely love the way that after and wrongdoing has occurred she follows through with a way to right it all again. So your never left with a clifhanger or wondering "why did that happen"? Or any stories that end in such a way of well now I HAVE to read the next in series BEFORE I see the new solution or the end? Nope you won't find that with this author. She is as great in every story as she is in the last read.
I love that she has the type of books that are all of stand alone value. Though I do plan on reading some box sets just to see if I really do have to read the next or if they will continue to please a reader who loves stand alone books and boxes series.
Way to go Ms Cole . I have been reading your books for the last two or so weeks and cannot put them down once engaged. I haven't felt this excited about an author in quite sometime. Your great at what you write.
Misty Morsr
She is totally engaging in her prose and I absolutely love the way that after and wrongdoing has occurred she follows through with a way to right it all again. So your never left with a clifhanger or wondering "why did that happen"? Or any stories that end in such a way of well now I HAVE to read the next in series BEFORE I see the new solution or the end? Nope you won't find that with this author. She is as great in every story as she is in the last read.
I love that she has the type of books that are all of stand alone value. Though I do plan on reading some box sets just to see if I really do have to read the next or if they will continue to please a reader who loves stand alone books and boxes series.
Way to go Ms Cole . I have been reading your books for the last two or so weeks and cannot put them down once engaged. I haven't felt this excited about an author in quite sometime. Your great at what you write.
Misty Morsr
March 26, 2022
This is a new author to me. Charlene is grieving the loss of her beloved husband, and while struggling with depression, and living each day, she is pretty much a recluse. When the charming Samuel starts to break through her barriers online, and they eventually meet, she has some sense of normality back in her life. But Samuel may not be who he appears to be and there are some dark secrets he is hiding. Will Charlene discover who Samuel is and what he is hiding? This is a good story which is filled with mystery, intrigue, suspense, secrets, grief, loss, healing, acceptance, and twists, which leads to a thrilling page turner. I look forward to reading more from this author and I recommend this story.
December 18, 2022
The Perfect Suitor by Cole Baxter.
I really, really, really enjoyed this book!
Reviews was mixed and average stars not so high as other books, no-one recommended as a worth to read but I choose because I put this book on my "The Perfect" list. What a good decision! I started this morning and already knew that I will need to finish today as would be hard to wait until tomorrow to know, where all this is going. This book just simply proof that we all are different tastes and preferences and even so there was plenty reviews saying this book was "plain and predictable" I loved it every chapter!
I definitely will check out other books by this author and looks like will replace some choices on my A-Z list 2023 :)
I really, really, really enjoyed this book!
Reviews was mixed and average stars not so high as other books, no-one recommended as a worth to read but I choose because I put this book on my "The Perfect" list. What a good decision! I started this morning and already knew that I will need to finish today as would be hard to wait until tomorrow to know, where all this is going. This book just simply proof that we all are different tastes and preferences and even so there was plenty reviews saying this book was "plain and predictable" I loved it every chapter!
I definitely will check out other books by this author and looks like will replace some choices on my A-Z list 2023 :)
May 8, 2023
Charlene loses her husband then spends the next 3 years moping around, only wanting to sleep in the hope of dreaming about him. One day she receives a Friend Request which intrigues her enough to accept. This is such a long drawn out book which would have been better as a novella and that way much of the repetition could have been avoided. I didn’t like the stilted writing style nor did I find the story exciting, just a very naive, gullible woman who brought all her misery on herself! Probably in the minority here but it was far too slow for me and by the time it did liven up I’d lost all interest - sorry! I was given this ARC by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 10, 2023
I don’t know if this was just an idea that the author ran with but there are so MANY glaring missteps, like therapists overstepping boundaries/showing interest in banalities like artists?!, friends that don’t listen & the CONSTANT mentioning of money but by the end, I am convinced this man thinks that women are idiots who are afraid to use their voices. No one in their RIGHT mind would just do things that the main character did. Her constant WHINGING just made her level of idiocy grow exponentially. Someone in her social standing not running a background check is just mind boggling. If this was supposed to be a wake up call to women with wealth, message received! I guess it’s a good thing that the author isn’t well versed in the art of conning.
March 27, 2025
Review
I found it terribly difficult to get through this book. For starters, Charlene Bell was indeed an idiot, and she caused her husbands death by being so ridiculous and forcing her husband to go to that restaurant, even knowing that they were warned that it was a dangerous area for Americans! Really stupid! Also, this Samuel was so obviously after her money from the very beginning. I mean, all he talked about was her money, and getting her to buy expensive things. Being wealthy, she should have been very wary when she got a friend request out of the blue. These people were cringeworthy! Not only that, but she didn't waste much time falling into bed with this con man. Jeez!!!
I found it terribly difficult to get through this book. For starters, Charlene Bell was indeed an idiot, and she caused her husbands death by being so ridiculous and forcing her husband to go to that restaurant, even knowing that they were warned that it was a dangerous area for Americans! Really stupid! Also, this Samuel was so obviously after her money from the very beginning. I mean, all he talked about was her money, and getting her to buy expensive things. Being wealthy, she should have been very wary when she got a friend request out of the blue. These people were cringeworthy! Not only that, but she didn't waste much time falling into bed with this con man. Jeez!!!
March 27, 2022
From an opening that grabs you like a fish hook, to an ending that left me with my jaw close to the floor, "The Perfect Suitor" is one of those books that calls you back every time you stop reading. For me, there were a few elements that could have been toned down (or skipped altogether), and would have made this a much stronger read. I enjoyed Cole Baxter's writing, the plot, and (some of!) the characters. No reading regrets, and looking forward to picking up another book by this author.
This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion. My thanks to zooloosbooktours and InkubatorBooks
This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion. My thanks to zooloosbooktours and InkubatorBooks
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