Wow, this will keep you guessing. How well do you know someone? I really enjoyed the narrative changing from the main character to the author. Kept me wanting to read more and more and I just had to know what was going on. Added bonus set in Spain. Loved it.

This book totally gripped me from start to finish. T.J. Emerson is an accomplished writer and I would definitely seek out more of his work. We start with a typical villa holiday setting - which was a welcome escape from a cold and wet February in the UK - and are introduced to Julian and Olivia, a seemingly happily married middle aged couple of means. But we soon learn of Julian’s tragic past and the accident which left his first wife severely disabled and Julian spending all his time caring for her .
Julian has built a new life for himself and a new career, marriage to the wealthy and intelligent Olivia seems to be everything he’s ever needed.
Then a chance encounter on the beach with a handsome young guy called Gabriel from his past throws his placid existence into turmoil. A kind of cat and mouse game ensues with more of Julian’s past emerging and disturbing truths about his relationship with Gabriel are revealed.
I didn’t especially like Julian although he’s a well drawn character with good and bad traits and the descriptions of the challenges and the sheer desperation of being a carer are really well depicted and I positively loathed Gabriel, even Olivia left me a bit cold but this didn’t detract from my absorption in the story.
As the book neared it’s conclusion, I felt fairly certain I knew how it was going to end but there were a couple of unexpected twists.
The title of this book leads you to expect a fairly predictable holiday read but it’s darker and more compelling than most.
Highly recommended.

I couldn't get into this book. The main characters were hard to like and the wife seemed to gullible. The whole premise was kind of silly to me.

What a read, definitely one to take to the beach and escape! Enjoyed the story which was well written because it kept you guessing throughout. Thr enjoyable part where the characters and some seemed more realistic than others.

This book was very slow for me. I like my thrillers to be fast paced and constantly engaging, I thought it would pick up pace at some point but it did not happen until the very end. The plot was definitely well thought out though.

This started out with an initial BANG and then creeped very slowly into a mysterious culprit of dizzying twists that soon follow. This was a good read that kept me interested and seeking answers to who killed his wife.

This was unlike any other thriller I’ve ever read. I feel like so many of the newer thriller books are just recycled ideas, used over and over again. The story follows Julian, who has lived a hard life care taking for his ill father, and then later in life his ill wife. Julian is unlike any character I’ve ever read about in a book, and I truly felt every emotion he experienced in this book. After Julian takes a camping trip to clear his head, he meets Gabriel in a coffee shop, and things are never the same for him. I couldn’t put this book down because I was so eager to see how Julian’s story would end. The last two chapters of the book had me dropping my jaw in shock. A completely unexpected ending, that wrapped up the story perfectly. If you’re looking for a thriller with a side of romance, this is it!!

A compelling mystery, thriller novel that is very well written. The storyline builds as the as the couple, Julian and Olivia, spend time in their Spanish villa. A past acquaintance of Julian arrives in Spain throwing the relationships into turmoil. There are many twists and turns in the story that culminate into a surprise ending. A five-star read for this exciting novel ... well done T. J. Emerson.

The Perfect Holiday - T.J Emerson

Publication Date: 20/04/22

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Olivia is a heiress with a large fortune, and Julian, her husband found fame through the murder of his disabled first wife. They retreat to their villa in Mallorca for some sun and a relaxing holiday. However, a chance encounter with an old face takes the holiday on a very different path to the one planned.

Initially I was drawn to this book by the cover, along with the intriguingly short synopsis. T.J Emerson is a brilliantly descriptive storyteller. For me it’s less of the typical psychological thriller, more of a romantic suspense novel. There is a considerable twist at the end, and it’s definitely not how I thought the ending would go.

A slow burning, easy reader, with an attractively descriptive narrative. Huge thanks for NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC, and for T.J Emerson for crafting the novel.

Olivia and Julian think they are going to have one relaxing vacation in Mallorca in a villa. Too bad Gabriel shows up and has different plans. At the end of this vacation one person will be dead. Think you can guess who it will be?

Loved all the secrets and the twist at the end.

I received an ARC from Boldwood Books via NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback. This novel did great with the SUSPENSE. The synopsis was on the vague side, so you knew something was going to happen but really no idea of what. But the author did a fantastic job of building the suspense, up to finding out the first secret and then all the way through what consequences were going to come of it. I loved the vivid descriptions of Mallorca which made me want to go there even more than I already did. A pet peeve of mine is when authors include some dialogue in another language but make mistakes with it. That did unfortunately happen here. Also, after so much suspense, I thought the ending was a little rushed. Once the ending started to be revealed, I thought the author would go in a big different direction for some real payback, but I did like the ultimate ending the author chose. I just felt it could have been drawn out a bit more. Overall, I highly recommend this book and will certainly choose others by this author.

I love vacation setting thriller and this beautiful setting and thrilling plot does not disappoint.

Olivia and Julian are spending quiet time relaxing in a Spanish Villa. Olivia is an heiress slowly giving away her trust while Julian is fairly famous for caring for his ill wife before she was murdered.

In their fairly new marriage they needed some time away. The days are long and meld together until they happen along Gabriel in the village. Gabriel is young, attractive and a lovely houseguest but it seems he might never leave.

What does Gabriel know? And what will it take to get him out? if you love vacations -gone-wrong and domestic thriller set it beautiful places then #ThePerfectHoliday is for you! #Boldwoodbooks #netGalley #NetGalleyReads

I thought this might have been a bit predictable and just another holiday type thriller that has been written a million times before but this was a whole different level! The plot is so complex and has so many twists and turns. I couldnt put it down and loved the fact that I had no idea what was going to happen or where the plot was going to go next. The characters are so amazingly realistic and you really do feel like you know these people. This is just the perfect summer read and it will have you hooked

This was a really engaging thriller, with a heavy cat and mouse game between the two leading men. I loved the set-up, I loved the characters and I loved the initial plot line, however, there was a few moments where I felt the story and the chapters went on much longer than needed, so the middle of the book felt very dragged out and the ending also seemed a little rushed, with no clear answers. Nevertheless, it still had me hooked and I would still recommend to all thriller lovers, as my opinion will absolutely not speak for everybody else.

Omg! Omg! I loveeeddd this book. I read lots of thrillers and Julian stands out as one of the most unique and complex characters I've encountered. Readers will have so many opinions and emotions while reading this novel. I'm also a sucker for a book that discusses class/wealth, and this delivered. The ending was memorable and quite surprising (in a good way).

This book also made me very hungry, the descriptions of the Spanish Tapas were so vivid and wonderful. Thanks for the advance review copy.

It is a very well spun tale with an ending that I didn't expect. Majority of the characters I didn't like. But that was the writers fault because TJ did a great job detailing and just making you see who the characters were really were.. I can't believe Julien was so foolish and couldn't see what a user and low life Gabriel really was. I would like to pick this book for my book club just to discuss all the different story angles that were all going on at the same time. Well done overall. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good thriller.

An exciting story of a frustrated caregiver (Julian) falling in lust with a much younger and good looking con artist and grifter (Gabriel). Julian secretly polishes off his disabled wife Helen with the help of Gabriel (who does the deed) .
Julian previously took care of his disabled father as a teenager and twenty something and feels like he is owed a better and more fulfilling life.
He somehow hooks heiress Olivia (on her third marriage) and convinces her that he is all about philanthropy for caregivers ...for a while at least all is well ...until Gabriel returns unexpectedly while Julian and Olivia are vacationing at Olivia's villa in Mallorca.
From that point the book takes a will he or wont he turn....will Julian try once again to get away with murder with Gabriels help and dupe his wife Olivia or will he not have the nerve and upset his comfortable yet unfulfilled life.
The book was interesting . The ending was excellent. My only criticism would be that the book could have used a bit of editing in the 50 pages prior to the end.... too much repetitive back and forth between Julian and Gabriel and Olivia at their villa.

The Perfect Holiday by T.J. Emerson is a fast-paced and compelling tale that pulled me into a vortex of secrets and lies very quickly. If you are looking for a suspenseful and twisty read that will keep you on the edge of your seat, then look no further.

Julian is enjoying the good life with his secind wife, Olivia, after spending years as a carer for his first wife, Helen, before her death. Support for carers has, in fact, become a calling for Julian, and Olivia seems to be fully supportive of his charitable endeavours. But while holidaying in Mallorca, a chance meeting with Gabriel, a much younger man from Julian's past, will threaten the idyllic life that the couple have built, and the cat and mouse game that ensues will leave you with chills. 4.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

BOOK REVIEW
The Perfect Holiday by T. J. Emerson
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Publication Date: April 20, 2022
Thank you to @netgalley and @BookandTonic for this ARC
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Synopsis: Olivia and Julian are enjoying lazy days in their Spanish villa, a well deserved break from their busy lives. Especially for Julian, who after a lifetime as a career was thrust into the public eye following the tragic murder of his first wife.
The languid heat and peace of the villa is broken only by cliff top walks, sun drenched lunches and cooling swims. Until a chance encounter with Gabriel - an attractive man, many years their junior - changes everything.
Soon their idyllic break turns into a dangerous, high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse. Will any of them get out alive?
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Review: What a read. This is one I definitely did not want to put down. Each page kept you guessing as to where this story was going to go. The storyline was wonderful, with all the twists, turns, and suspense. It was crazy to think of how far some people would go to get what they want! I am very glad that I requested to read this one on NetGalley. It did not disappoint and if you are looking for a good cat & mouse type read, I HIGHLY recommend this one. A brilliant told thriller all around!
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Recommend: Yes! Be sure to check this one out on its publication day.

Whilst I enjoyed the read, it didn't quite hit the mark for me to rate it higher.

The story line kept me engaged with the narrative, primarily focusing on Julian. Julian has gained prominence after writing a memoir telling of his life as an unpaid carer to his late wife Helen. Now married to Olivia, his life is devoted to charity and bringing attention and support to the carer fraternity. On "the perfect holiday" with Olivia, they run into Gabriel, a man from Julian's past.

So I loved the set up, and I enjoyed the cat and mouse scenario involving Gabriel and Julian. However, I just felt the middle section went on a little too long and was impatient for the story to progress as the tension that I initially felt didn't hold - In hindsight, I feel it needed to be "ramped" up more than it was.

I did get a surprise where the narrative led to, however in contrast to the middle section going on too long, the ending felt a bit rushed. I think this scenario could have been played out a little longer, with greater tension, and more cat and mouse here. And one aspect of the finale was a little too convenient for my liking.