Thanks to Bella Books and Netgalley for this copy in exchange for my review.

The characters are well rounded and the mystery of what was going on as Mary Ellen and her wife Addy deal with ME's past infidelity, a new town, and a new business kept me turning the page to figure out what was happening.

Very much a slow burn crime book, which gives the author time to explore each character in turn and really show who they are, adding depth to this story. At first it appears to be a simple story of a lesbian couple moving across the country to an historical house that needs renovating. One goes out to work and the other stays home working on the house with the enigmatic lesbian contractor. It avoids crime novel cliche by exploring (problematic) relationship dynamics and then ends the book with a totally unexpected twist. An intriguing read, that will keep you interested until the end.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What?? WOW!!! This was an amazing read. Its filled with suspense and also intriguing. I still cant wrap my head around what the heck just happened. Nance knocked this one out the park. I've been thinking about this at random times still wondering WHAT?? How?? Great Job Nance!!


Thank you Bella Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

Oh my word what have I just read? Often I find lesfic, whether it’s the crime genre or not, quite formulaic. Well if Nance Newman learned the formula, she threw it in the bin and set fire to it. This book goes in so many directions… but I can’t say too much without spoiling it and you need to read this one cold. Go in with no expectations and you’ll enjoy the ride.

Mary Ellen is an academic who has lost her job after a scandal involving a student. Her wife Addy agrees to a move across the country as she sees it as an opportunity for a new start and the chance to build her interior design reputation by remodelling an old home. Up pops Amelia, just the contractor that’s needed. Mary Ellen is unlikeable and Addy is infuriating. Amelia seems normal… but the plot takes off and you just hang on.

I’ll be looking out for Ms Newman’s next book to see where such an imagination might lead next.

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley

Wow! This was incredible. I don’t think I can say very much without spoilers, and this is one novel that you don’t want spoilers going into. This was NOT at all what I was expecting from the blurb, but thankfully I’m flexible and this was a good story. This was a great mystery that was very well written and kept me tearing through its pages. Some elements were relatively “obvious” as I was reading, but others were unexpected and there were some surprise twists. All-round, this was very satisfying.

This novel certainly gave me a bunch of strong feelings, not all good ones, and that is the mark of a well done novel.

This one gets 5-stars from me, but it wasn’t quite perfect. There were some unanswered questions that I was left with (and I don’t think they were the intentional kind) which took a bite out of the satisfying conclusion. There was at least one big coincidence which was unfortunate given how well constructed the rest of the plot was, and coincidences in a story like this are a weak point in the plot (in my opinion).

All said, I highly recommend this novel.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC. I have left a review voluntarily.

This is just the kind of book I like to read - it's a bit dark, there's an air of mystery and a feeling that there is more going on but you are not being told. And there you have it - it's an unreliable narrator born out of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie.
This story features a most unsatisfactory marriage - one of the couple use sex as the answer to everything. And then you realise it is not just the answer for her it is also the question.
She appears to be a professor of psychology with no idea how research and ethical approval is supposed to function. She has pinned all her hopes professionally on something that could only ever had caused her to crash and burn. And it did. Twice. Only the second time was a little too literal.
This story kept me interested when when I was annoyed with the characters - I was annoyed with purely because you can see that they are not acting in their own best interest.
There's murder, suspense, and plenty to keep you interested.
Even when you think you have a handle on it and can see what is coming there's another twist.
Who was the most twisted character in the story? Who knows. They were all in competition for that title.
The epilogue was a cold look in the rear view mirror whilst driving straight back to the beginning.
I would definitely recommend this.

Oh I really liked this one. What a great murder mystery. It starts out very interesting then goes in many directions. You will not want to put it down because you will want to know "where is this going?" I guarantee you will not be able to guess.
And the ending is a stunner.
Great writing, great characters. You will like them, hate them, fear them and feel sorry for them.
Even the cover is a mystery. You will understand it only after you finish the story. Pretty clever.
Thanks Nance Newman for a refreshing new story. I rarely give 5 stars, but this one covers it all. Mystery, murder, sex, character development and a surprise ending. (Even if it was a bit far fetched)
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Addy and Mary Ellen (ME) have had their fair share of trials. Determined to start life afresh they move across country and buy a fixer-upper. to renovate, hoping the shared project will solidify their relationship and get their marriage back on track. Addy, an interior designer, is also excited to renovate and use the house as base for her new business. They hire a local contractor, Amelia, to help, who soon finds that all is not well with the married couple.

A totally engrossing, book that will keep you glued to the pages. So many twists and turns, with an intricate story that the author keeps tight reign on and maintains coherency throughout. Thoroughly enjoyable

I am not entirely sure what I was expecting from this book, but it wasn’t what I just finished reading.
Right from the start I disliked all the main characters, the story was repetitive and laced with too many sexual encounters. Sex was always the answer. I’m just happy none of these scenes were extremely explicit.

From the get go I knew where this was going, who would end up being the culprit of which crime. One twist I didn’t necessarily see coming, wasn’t really necessary either… the last 10-15% of this book was the best in my opinion. Overal this book just wasn’t for me, I didn’t like the story, the characters or the writing style. Going by the blurb this wasn’t what I thought it would be, Ivor sure thought it would have more intriguing and tension. Perhaps some complicated 3 way relationship which wouldn’t be my favourite thing, but it was worse. I don’t have lot of positive things to say about this book. In general it left me feeling unwell and uncomfortable, not because the intrigue and crime was so well done, but because it just wasn’t good for me.

Please read other reviews.

Addy and Mary Ellen have moved cross country from San Francisco to a small town near Ithaca, NY. They have purchased an historic stone house that Addy hopes to renovate with plans to start her own interior design business. Mary Ellen (M. E.) is working at the local college as a professor. It is a big step down from her position at Stanford. A scandal caused the move and new start for the married couple. Amelia is the local contractor who is hired to renovate the historic home. Addy sees her as a new friend. But she pushes M. E. 's buttons. And nothing is quite as it seems.

The book is gripping and hard to put down once the twists start coming. The story is suspenseful and full of intrigue. To tell more would spoil the story. I enjoyed the plotting and pace. And while I suspected correctly some things I could not anticipate everything. That is what makes a suspense book fun.

Addy and her wife Mary Ellen retreat to rural New York to get away from their lives and to restore a historic stone house.
(Something bad happened in San Fran, related to Mary.)

Complicating things further is gorgeous contractor Amelia, who is possibly a bit TOO helpful.

I would classify this as 'suspense' with a bit of mystery.
(Yes, i got this off NetGalleyvwithout seeing what category it was in. Oops.)

Good, interesting read with well thought out characters. The way events played out kept me interested, and the conclusion surprised me.
3.5 stars out of 5.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

oh what a tangle web we weave when we practise to deceive.... and what a deceit this one was....

the ultimate betrayal and the consequences that follow...

MA and Addy have to leave town and start again through MA infidelity but hopefully they can put it all behind them and concentrate on their marriage and making sure that addy chance of making a go of her business is successful

but once a cheater always a cheater... could MA really being doing it again and then the police come calling

what a storyline and the brilliant twist at the end i didnt even see coming...

will be keeping an eye out for more from this author

Addy and Mary Ellen are compelled to relocate from San Francisco to a town near Ithaca, New York, because of Mary Ellen's affair with a student. When the student vanishes, the police start searching for Mary Ellen. The book is a tale of revenge that only becomes apparent at the conclusion. With numerous twists and turns, the plot is incredibly suspenseful. I would recommend this book to fans of crime thrillers.

Stone Cold Secrets begins on a drive from San Francisco to a small town in upstate New York just outside the college town of Ithaca. On the last leg of that drive we are introduced to Mary Ellen (M.E.) Montgomery and her wife, Addalynn (Addy) Pious. M.E. was a professor for Stanford University in San Francisco, but lost that job when she was accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student. Therefore, M.E. and Addy were forced to give up their careers, their townhome, their luxury vehicles, and their friends, and they moved to the only college that would offer M.E. another position. Addy is not happy for a multitude of reasons, one of which includes giving up her interior decorator/design career in SF. However, she forges ahead and finds a historic stone house in upstate New York to purchase and renovate into their home as well as her design studio. Now she just needs to hire a contractor to help her with the renovation once they arrive.

Magically a green-eyed, red-headed contractor named Amelia appears on Addy's doorstep once she and M.E. arrive in upstate New York. Amelia offers her services to help Addy renovate the old stone house since this would be a labor of love for Amelia. Addy finally accepts Amelia's offer.

What ensues is a story about M.E., Addy, Amelia, and someone named Raeann who winds up suspiciously murdered in SF and just happens to be the student that M.E. was involved with at Stanford.

Newman weaves a gripping tale of the four women, incorporating suspense, suspicion, adultery, and revenge into a cohesive storyline. I never knew who was going to come out the "winner" in this story with all of the plot twists and admissions. I did have to suspend some disbelief with one or two of the plot twists, but I'd still highly recommend this book to other readers. 4.75 stars

I received an ARC from Bella Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.