Roz lives in Ireland and has no money, but she is pregnant. When she comes across a website offering to pair her with wealthy parents for her baby, she jumps at the chance to leave her hometown and move to New York City to live with a celebrity couple. Sheridan is an actress, really a “has been” who still wants to be famous. Her husband Daniel is an actor who is swoon-worthy and totally dominated by Sheridan. When Roz first meets them, she is convinced that they are the answer to all of her problems. She will live with them and give them her baby, in exchange for quite a bit of money. What she did not count on was that Sheridan would treat her like a hostage, moving her to a windowless basement from which there is no escape. The story of Roz is suspenseful and very original. The characterization of Sheridan, Daniel and Roz led me to be sympathetic for Roz, to feel disdain for Daniel and to really hate Sheridan. There were also minor characters, like Roz’s friend Dympna, who was desperate to find Roz, convinced that she is in trouble. There is also Sheridan’s lackey George who does whatever she wants, including taping all of his conversations with Roz. The improbable situation that the author portrayed was very entertaining, especially since she definitely knew how to build suspense and put in twists. Fans of psychological drama and suspense will enjoy this book.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

This was the first book I have read by this author but now have three more on my Kindle! This begins with Roz, a young Irish girl finding out she is pregnant. She can’t keep the baby and abortion is not an option, so she finds an internet site where well-to-do couples are willing to adopt/buy a child. It all seems above board and Roz feels she has struck lucky when a wealthy Hollywood couple offer to take care of her and the unborn child, she believes she is giving the child the best start in life. Too good to be true? Indeed, it is, and once Roz has become settled in the couple’s apartment in America things take a very sinister turn and the story becomes very twisted. A gripping dark and tense psychological thriller.

The Perfect Mother, Caroline Mitchell. 3*.
Interesting Hollywood portrayal, somewhat entertaining but fails to challenge genre clichés.

The author opens the prologue broadcasting that this is a captive / kidnapping story. I am not a huge fan of captive stories, as for around 90% of the novel, the protagonist is a helpless victim who is fearful and feels hopeless throughout the book. She (the victim is usually female) experiences indignities, abuse – emotional and/ or physical – and perhaps rape. This novel is true to that type. Very little sleuthing goes on, and there’s a scarcity of psychological complexity as per the expectations of a ‘psychological thriller.’

Set initially in Ireland, we meet Rosalind (Roz) Foley, who at 24 finds herself pregnant after a drunken, one-night stand. Roz comes from an impoverished childhood, her alcoholic mother having done very little to put food on the table or keep Roz warm, her father having long since absconded. In the present, Roz works at a low-paying, dead-end job as a cleaner, her obvious artistic skills as a portrait painter left for her leisure time. I wish more had been made of Roz’s artistic skills, instead of the constant focus on her lack of money, lack of education, lack of job skills; lack of anything to write home about, except the hinted-at looks.

Knowing that revealing the identity of her baby’s father to her bestie, Dympna, would probably break up their friendship, Roz opts to give up her unborn baby for adoption. She signs up with the US-based website, Miracle Moms, snagging the attention of the most famous, powerful showbiz couple in Hollywood, Sheridan Sinclair and Daniel Watson. It is Roz’s long, platinum-blond hair that catches the eye of the New York City-based celebrity couple.

The story is told from 3 points of view (POVs): that of Roz in the first person, and Sheridan and Dympna in the third person. Roz is trusting and naïve, acting more like a teenager than a woman in her mid-twenties. Daring to believe a faceless, nameless identity on a website, three months’ pregnant Roz travels from Ireland to USA. Most of the rest of the story is set in NYC. In the flashes of Ireland in the book, we see Dympna, the most likeable and intelligent character in the book.

We are initially shown Sheridan as a sympathetic character. Her childhood as a child actor growing up on Hollywood TV sets was controlled by a domineering star-mother. Soon, there are inklings of Sheridan’s negative nature, particularly towards her son. Gradually, the sisterhood is put to shame as Sheridan’s sociopathic, psychopathic nature is revealed. Sheridan’s actions and motives stretch credibility at times, the author switching between putting the blame on Sheridan versus trying to show her as a complex person. There is little complexity in Sheridan’s character; she comes across as a villain.

The reader wonders about Daniel’s motive and actions. Seemingly more caring that his wife, Daniel soon turns into shades of grey. The author flipped between showing Daniel as sympathetic and sociopathic. Despite the explanation of his hidden side, it seemed that Caroline Mitchell’s character study was confused. Daniel’s personality wasn’t plausible, and his character didn’t have depth.

The side characters played largely to stereotype: Mike the ex-convict. George the trusty employee, Juanita the Hispanic helper.

Overall, a good premise, somewhat entertaining but fails to surprise or challenge genre expectations.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Thomas& Mercer – Amazon Publishing UK and Caroline Mitchell for my advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

What an edge of your seat page turner! You will be captivated from the beginning. The end was such a shock I did not see coming! This is a MUST read! You will not be disappointed.

Caroline Mitchell is a wonder all her own. She can take anything and spin it into gold, I swear.

The Perfect Mother is a book I was slightly nervous to start because I’ve attempted a few similar story lines and they’ve all lacked the edge and suspense I’d been craving.

What Caroline does with Roz, and Sheridan is a mind boggling tale, one that had my fingers aching from the inability to set this book down.

I felt for Roz, though I’d never been in her position she was still relatable. She was strong, and intelligent, and made a few mistakes that led her down the wrong path.

My mind is still rattling over this one. There are so many ways this book could have been different, but I think everything was drawn out in the most perfect way. With a couple of twists that will make your cut clench.

I cannot day enough good about The Perfect Mother. Caroline Mitchell hit another home run, and I will recommend this book until my very last breath.

This was completely mind boggling. The thought of giving up my child is one thing but I couldn't imagine dealing with what Roz dealt with.

Twisted families and secrets of all sizes are at the center of Caroline Mitchell's newest standalone. I was introduced to her books with the DI Amy Winter Series, but love her thrilling suspenseful standalones, Witness and Silent Victim.

Roz has her future in the air and soon her life when she meets Sheridan and Daniel. Family and friendship is not far from the muddled mess when loyalties are tested at every turn. Can't wait to read her next twisted tale.

thank you for the opportunity to read this book and I really enjoyed it, got me gripped from the get go and couldn't put it down, couldn't wait to find out the end. fully recommended

This post is going to focus on The Perfect Mother by Caroline Mitchell. I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The book was released on January 14, 2020 so those of you into thrillers can already go find it!

Mitchell has created a story with a very short cast list. The main character is Roz, a poor, pregnant Irish girl. Then we have her best friend, her friend's boyfriend and parents, and the celebrity couple looking to adopt Roz's baby once it is born.

Roz flies to New York to meet the hopeful parents to be, Sheridan, and Daniel. She doesn't know the identity of who she is meeting because of the identity protection behind the elite adoption site she has chosen to work with. Little does Roz know that Sheridan has figured out her password, and made it appear that they are no longer interested.

After spending almost her entire pregnancy locked up in their basement apartment, Roz still has some fight in her. It also turns out that her best friend back home has been working the case on her own as well.


But boy did this book have its twists and turns. Some of them I saw coming miles away and others I didn't even notice until after the fact. This book was rated fairly well on Goodreads with a 4.17 rating as of this writing, but I gave it only 2 stars. It was too difficult to get through how certain characters were written. I had such a strong dislike for Sheridan, find her pretty unbelievable that I almost DNF'd the book completely. I also wasn't a fan of finding out who the baby's father is. I had almost returned to liking the book, and then found out who the father was, and I returned to not caring for it.


Have any of you read this book and thought differently?

This book was mediocre in my opinion. I think it had great potential but it dragged at some spots. I ended up skimming through some dialogue. I get that some people are crap in this world but sometimes I just hate reading about it. Overall though, not great and not horrible.

I thought the first 3/4 of the book dragged on. The end was good, but mostly predictable. The characters were one dimensional with no depth and none of them were likable.

I really enjoy Caroline Mitchell’s work and this book was no exception. This isn’t like any book I’ve read before. It’s super dark and twisty and I had no idea how it was going to end. It’s an intense read.

Roz is extremely lovable and you just want her to be safe but the celeb couple now keeping her captive are so difficult to work out. It’s quite the ride

I received a copy of the ebook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

This book gets a 3.5/5 stars from me (on platforms that don’t have .5 increments I will round down to 3). I enjoyed the storyline and the culture I gained from reading this book. My biggest complaint is that when it was a chapter from the American character’s point of view the European/Irish terms for things were still used. I am someone that will look up terms/phrases I don’t know in order to get the full experience but I was annoyed seeing the Irish terms being used by the American characters all the time. I feel like this change would have definitely increased my rating.

I did enjoy the layers that were added to Roz’s situation. I enjoyed piecing together the clues that were left for Roz’s to find and figuring out the mystery behind the father of the child. I definitely can’t say that the characters were boring or lacked depth. Mitchell definitely took the time to develop her characters and I always appreciate that in a book. This wasn’t my favorite book I’ve read this month but I would definitely consider reading other books by her.

Thanks NetGalley & Amazon Publishing UK for the ARC.

The bold cover and the synopsis grabbed me and didn't disappoint. This was a twisty thriller that has me on a slipper slide. It has you guessing until the final pages!
Great Read!

Carol;ine Mitchell - a fab author.
THis is a twisted storyline - it tells the story of Roz Foley - a young Irish girl who manages to get herself pregnant - she doesn't want this child and decides the only thing she can do is put the baby up for adoption. She joins an adoption agency and a wealthy family in New York want to adopt her baby - the only problem is they want her to go and live with them until the baby is born - can she live Ireland behind, her best friend too and do this.
After going to visit the couple , they ask her to stay - she eventually agrees - she cannot believe how lucky her unborn baby will be - BUT that's when things change - the couple want Roz to remain a secret - they don't want her going out, using her phone and want to control all aspects of the pregnancy. Can Roz survive the next 7 months like this????

What a wild ride. This book was fast paced and made for a good read but you have to be willing to suspend belief in certain parts. I thought the plot line was a little unrealistic in parts. However I went with the story and enjoyed it very much. I gave it four stars.

I loved this one!! Nothing in this book is at it seems! I kept me guessing and enthralled throughout the whole story. This one kept me up way past my bedtime because I just had to see where it would take me.

I really liked this one!
I felt like it was well written and had an interesting and unique premise. It kept my attention the whole time. I felt sorry for Roz and the situation she put herself in. But so happy that it was a happy ending for everyone involved! Quite a twist at the end that I never saw coming. A solid 4 stars!

Great book, I really enjoyed it! I look forward to reading more from this author. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

Roz Foley had one of those nights where she had too much to drink - and a one night stand ensued. She was roommates with Dypma. They had been best friends for many years. Imagine Roz’s surprise, when she found out that she was pregnant, and to make matters even worse, she had lost her job at the hotel. Why doesn’t she want Dypma to know who the father is? When Dypma found out that Roz was pregnant, she told Roz she would support her in whatever her decision was. Roz started looking on the internet for parents who wanted to adopt. She found a couple on the website that listed them as millionaires. She was so excited that her baby would get the best of everything. Roz communicated with the couple through the website. She felt that she needed to do the best for her baby. The couple wanted to move quickly. They sent her a one-way ticket from Ireland to New York. Roz said that the couple wanted her to stay with them in their beautiful basement suite, until she had the baby. Dypma tried to talk her out of making this trip. She had a bad feeling about this whole thing. She gave Roz a cellphone and instructed her to call her at least once a month. Roz travelled to New York and is put up in a hotel waiting to find out who the secret millionaires are. What will Roz find when she gets picked up at the hotel? Will she be surprised? Why all the secrecy of who the couple is? Will Roz be able to turn her child over to this couple, or will she change he mind? Will this choice be an actual nightmare for her? There is so much she doesn’t know about these people? Can they be trusted to take care of her and her baby? I don’t want to spoil this book for the reader. There is so much to this book. I loved it very much. The plot was something that definitely caught my attention immediately. The character development was really on point. I related very well with Roz. The antagonists were such that I felt that I wanted to actually rip their faces off. The descriptions throughout the book gave the reader so much to relate to. If you want to read about adoptions gone wrong and kidnapping, and psychological mind games, then this book is definitely one for you to read.