Julian has spent his whole life as a carer, ever since his mother left when he was a child. First, looking after his father and then caring for his wife after she was seriously injured in a car accident.

Now he is on holiday in his wealthy new wife's villa, reflecting on his outwardly privileged existence, when he bumps into an old acquaintance on the beach.

He first met this man when he had a short respite break, shortly before his first wife was killed during a burglary. He is just as mesmerising now as he was then. Julian is terrified of what might be revealed if this man comes into their life, but he can't drag himself away.

Now working for the charity he set up, Julian dreams of living a life just for himself, being able to finally stop thinking about caring for other people, and to spend his time and money as he wishes.

With Gabriel on the scene and driven by lust, Julian is faced with another opportunity to make a terrible choice.

Well I’m a little bit speechless. What an absolutely brilliant book from the beginning, right up to the end!

I found this book to be very predictable and not that interesting. Tension was also lacking and I felt bored. I was also frustrated with one of the main characters

This thriller was exactly what I expected in the sense that I was intrigued from page one and could not put it down!
Great book characters were intriguing ! Highly recommend

"The Perfect Holiday" by T. J. Emerson is a suspenseful thriller that introduces Olivia and Julian, a couple enjoying a tranquil vacation in their Spanish villa. The novel promises an intriguing premise – a chance encounter with a mysterious man named Gabriel turning their idyllic break into a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse.

The story is set against the backdrop of a luxurious Spanish villa, offering a picturesque setting for the unfolding drama. Emerson effectively captures the languid atmosphere, clifftop walks, and sun-drenched scenes that contrast with the suspenseful events that follow. The tension builds gradually, keeping readers engaged in the unfolding mystery.

The characters are introduced with enough depth to pique interest, particularly Julian, who has experienced the tragic murder of his first wife, thrusting him into the public eye. However, there are moments when the characters' motivations and actions feel slightly underdeveloped, hindering a deeper emotional connection with the reader.

The suspenseful elements of the narrative are well-executed, creating a sense of unease and mystery. The author skillfully navigates the cat-and-mouse game, introducing twists and turns that keep the reader guessing. The pacing is generally effective, with moments of tension interspersed with the quieter, more contemplative scenes.

However, the resolution of the story may leave some readers wanting more. Certain plot points and character motivations could have been further explored to provide a more satisfying conclusion. Additionally, some aspects of the storyline feel somewhat predictable, impacting the overall impact of the suspense.

While "The Perfect Holiday" has its strengths in building tension and creating a suspenseful atmosphere, it falls short of delivering a fully immersive and satisfying thriller experience. The potential for deeper character exploration and a more nuanced resolution could enhance the overall impact of the novel. As such, a three-star rating acknowledges its engaging elements but also recognizes areas where the narrative could be further refined for a more compelling reading experience.

It is an interesting read, thrilling in the right places and some guess work for the reader.
Left me wanting more. A recommended read, the author makes you want more.

Julian and Olivia are holidaying in their beautiful Spanish villa, from the outside they look like the perfect match. Olivia is wealthy and Julian is well known for caring for his ex wife who had been paralysed after a car crash. Her murder was a shock but Julian had a cast iron alibi and is now the face of the charitable foundation set up in her name.

The married couple meet Gabriel a younger man, and they start to spend time with him, he has a secret history with Julian. The three become entangled in more than one way, but is he a threat and will this perfect holiday turn into a nightmare.

Soon their idyllic break turns into a dangerous game. Will any of them get out alive?

A bit too slow paced for myself and I was expecting it to be more thrilling.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

This had me hooked. A twisty truney thriller. I was dying to know all the secrets of the past and how the first wife really died....a very good read

This book gave me chills!
It starts out gripping you and does not let go. Fantastic imagination from this author... or a twisted mind! You read this then decide!

Ok so I read a couple of reviews when I reached Chapter 4 as I didn’t know this story was going to have a MM relationship in it, not that it bothered me, I just wasn’t expecting it. So upon reading some reviews and then subsequently finishing the book I can say either I have read a heavily edited book or people have a strange definition of ‘graphic’ when it came to the men being together! There is no, I repeat no graphic sexual scenes at all in this book – it is heavily eluded to and skimmed over what they actually did.

So that aside lets talk about this book.

This story is told from the past and present life of Julian. We know that is first wife died and he was her main carer for the majority of their life together. After she was murdered he thrust into the public eye and uses his wife’s death to set up a charity to help fellow carers

When Julian and Olivia are enjoying a well deserved break in their Spanish villa, they meet a man called Gabriel who is very attractive and much younger than they are, we learn that Julian actually knows Gabriel from his old life and we are treated to a story that sees them both enter a game of cat and mouse. Julian will do anything to keep his secrets safe and Gabriel knows more than we realise!

Unfortunately, I have been locked out of my netgalley account for a few months and was not able to see which books I had on my list, in order to properly read and review. I do apologize and am doing a 3 for neutral. Will update once I’m able to obtain a copy and read!

DNF @ 33%.

I thought this was a thriller? I was very surprised when it started to read like a romance novel. There wasn’t enough suspense or mystery to keep me interested. I also thought the writing had too much descriptive fluff. Wasn’t for me.

This book had an interesting plot. Julian was a carer for his first wife before she was murdered. The parts in the past where he was the carer I felt sympathy for him. However, that changed when the story took place in the present. I found myself disliking Julien very much.

This book was suprising to me as I really enjoyed it. I kept turning the pages to see what was going on. It was all about greed and revenge. It has a timeline of before and after.

Some books sweep the rug out from under your feet...this book swept the rug, pushed me through the window and rolled me down the hill. I couldn't decide who I was mad at because the story was so wild. This is a read where you literally could not predict what was going to happen next because it was so crazy. It was also really well written; definitely had a hard time putting this one down.

This could have been a great book. It was dull and to slow for me. It was so predictable. It was a shame as I’d had high hopes for this one

I'm quite disappointed with this book. I was expecting something more murdery, more thrilling, more suspenseful.
I didn't like the characters and I felt bored too many times.

Morally grey characters, an evocative setting, a few steamy scenes and enough intrigue to keep you guessing until the end. I was glued to the pages!

Interesting and well written I just personally couldn’t get into the story. Just a little slow and unbelievable at some points. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I started this book and was a bit unsure whether to continue…I am certainly pleased I did!! Telling the story of a Julian, a man seeming to the outside world to be a saint….and a man who enters his life randomly….loved it!