Oh boy, this book. I so went back and forth so much. Everything in this was so over the top, but almost like a guilty-pleasure type of a juicy almost-thriller. You know when you're watching a ridiculous reality TV show where it's so bad, that you wonder how the heck the show got picked up? This was the book.

I rolled my eyes a few times and definitely cringed a good amount - because the writing was so cheesy and ridiculous. I kept reading it, though, because there were a few random moments where the writing shifted and it was getting better. But then something would happen or a character would say something - then I'm pulled right back to remind me that wow - this was so ridiculously over the top. It felt like anytime a character would react to something - nothing was built up well enough for them to go from 0 to 100 within two sentences, I kept thinking every single character was so vapid and so dramatic that the story just became absurd instead of a fun thriller. It wanted to be a great puzzle of a thriller but it became about annoying characters that I didn't care about.

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for an eARC of the book. All opinions are my own.

This is the first book I have read of Samantha Vérant's and I thoroughly enjoyed it. While it started off slow, I'm glad I stuck it out. I enjoyed the cooking aspects of the story and the twist left me gobsmacked. Would recommend to fans of Freida McFadden's "The Housemaid Series" and anyone else who enjoys domestic thrillers that get the blood pumping. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you Storm Publishing & NetGalley for the ARC.

The Private Chef is a great read with multiple twists that will keep you wondering what is going on. I really enjoyed this read. It is a slow build that increases intensity with each chapter. If you enjoy mysteries, filled with twists and a dash of revenge then this book is for you! This is the first book I've read from this author and I can't wait to read more!

Julia Fouquet attains her aspiration of becoming a private chef for the affluent Drake family in Malibu. However, her initial enthusiasm diminishes as she grapples with the erratic temperament of her employer, Erica Drake. Erica's volatile mood swings and excessive drinking cultivate a strained atmosphere, prompting Julia to reassess her choice to work in their opulent seaside residence. As hidden truths within the family begin to emerge, Julia finds herself navigating her own concealed motives while striving to maintain her poise in a highly pressurized environment.
The narrative is rife with intrigue, deceit, and unforeseen developments, ensuring that readers remain engrossed throughout the unfolding drama. Samantha Verant adeptly crafts the characters, offering a compelling dual perspective that enriches the storyline. While reading, I did perceive a decrease in pacing toward the conclusion, with many superfluous details that detracted from the storyline. However, overall, I appreciated the thrilling elements and character dynamics, and it was a captivating read.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Storm Publishing via NetGalley.

In this book, readers are transported to the sunny, exclusive world of Malibu where Julia Fouquet begins her dream job as a private chef for the wealthy and enigmatic Drake family. What starts as a coveted opportunity quickly spirals into a tense, unpredictable environment, thanks to Erica Drake, whose mercurial moods and wine-soaked mornings unsettle Julia from the start. But beneath the veneer of the Drakes’ picture-perfect lifestyle, dark secrets simmer, and Julia must tread carefully to protect her hidden motives.

While the premise promises a deliciously twisted tale of ambition and betrayal, the execution falls short. The story, while layered with potential for suspense and intrigue, often feels overly complex and disjointed. The characters lack depth, with many coming across as frustratingly obnoxious or irrational. Erica’s erratic behavior, instead of being intriguing, can feel exaggerated to the point of disbelief.

The plot twists, though plentiful, fail to deliver the shock value they seem to aim for, feeling predictable and uninspired. The pacing drags at times, making it hard for readers to stay invested, and the narrative’s lack of cohesion can lead to confusion, prompting a need to backtrack through the pages. The ending, anticipated as a grand reveal, disappoints with its predictability and lack of surprise.

I will admit “The Private Chef” by Samantha Verant started off slow for me and I was not sure where it was headed, but I am very glad I stuck with it! If you have not read Samantha Verant before, I highly recommend you do! The Private Chef is a story of revenge, deception and trying to right the wrongs of the past. It is very twisty, and I enjoyed this solid 4 star read! I will be adding The Lucky Widow to my TBR list as well! Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Julia thinks she’s landed the perfect job, as a private chef for a wealthy Hollywood actress and her family. But life imitates art In The Private Chef (and this one’s a twisty one!)

Things are not at all what they seem, and we soon learn the marriage is in shambles, and everybody has secrets.

Verant kept me guessing until the very end! Ive already recommended this one to a handful of friends - don’t miss out!

Chef Julia is hired by famous American film-world couple Erica and David Drake to cook for them in their luxurious home on the island of Malibu but all 3 have their own secret agendas and just when you think you know what's going on, everything changes. Full of twists and unreliable narrators, this thriller kept me guessing right up to the final chapter.

A great read which I thoroughly enjoyed. It was fast-paced and interesting. I enjoyed the cooking aspect of this story as well as he relationships side. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

In this book, Julia lands her dream job cooking for the glamorous Drake family in Malibu, but it quickly turns dark. With her erratic employer and family secrets unraveling, Julia must keep her own hidden agenda under wraps. Suspenseful and full of drama, it’s a captivating tale of secrets simmering beneath the surface.

Would recommend. Thank you to Samantha Vérant, NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of this book

THE HOOK/APPEAL: Did she get her dream job or her nightmare of an employer?

THE REVIEW: If you like Frieda's Housemaid series, you'll get the appeal of this book.

THE RATING: Solid 4!

This is the second book I’ve read by Samantha Verant and wow does she know how to create and deliver awesome twists! I loved the multimedia aspects of the book which gave context to the story and provided more mystery. The references to the songs throughout also made this book seem so real (although I hope art doesn’t imitate life!). Well thought out characters and multiple POVs to get every side of the story.

This is my second book by Samantha Verant. I read The Lucky Widow as an ARC and I thought there was no way she’d be able to beat that story or even something as good as that story, but SHE DID IT AGAIN!

This story had me addicted from the very first chapter & I did not want to put it down! I had a feeling I knew where this story was going to go, but there were still a few twists that I was shocked at! Verant knows how to write a super twisty, intense, drama filled story with some psychotic characters! There were times I wanted to shake Julia for her to see the light, that’s all I’ll say about that, but when everything finally was revealed it was like a weight was lifted from my shoulders! Verant will be an automatic read for me from now on! I absolutely love her work & will be recommending her books to everyone I can!!

If you want a twisty, drama filled, drama with rich people, a lot of food puns & jokes, and toxic/manipulative relationships then this is the story for you! And if you haven’t read The Lucky Widow? What are you waiting for?! It’s a fantastic read as well!!

This story takes you on an incredible journey, and I absolutely loved it! It’s filled with all the drama you’d expect from a tale about a married couple and their family. However, it adds an extra layer of intrigue by starting with a chef who begins working at the stars’ house. Unbeknownst to them, she’s not who she claims to be and has a hidden agenda. But hey, who wouldn’t be curious about someone like that?

This was enjoyable., but the issies with grammer and puncuation shoudl be rectified before official release. This may be the format but the issues were very offputtign and mad eit hard to focus on the story. However - it was a good story and the remise was enjoyable. A tad predicatble but enjoyable non-the less. I would definately recomend this to others a quick easy read. Nothing too dark or triggering, but again - always advise to list trigger warms at the beginnign of book. The writing style is so good and you are immediately drawn in by it - it really enchanges the storyline.

A definite addictive page turner. What a great book full of twists and turns

Thank you for the opportunity to review

Everyone seems to have their own agenda and no one is who they seem in this book. I found myself trying to decide who was responsible for doing each thing that happened. As soon as I had decided my suspect, something happened to point the finger elsewhere. The ending was also one I didn't see coming!

What a brilliant book this is, I was totally hooked from beginning to end. I loved the twists, turns and drama of it all, huge 5 stars.

2am & I’m finally heading to bed because I could not put this down. There were a lot of twists, and I truly never knew which direction we’d end up. The song references are a bit overdone (this coming from a gal who truly does appreciate ). Overall, an easy, twisty read.

The premise of the book was fascinating and promising, hence, I picked it up. However, the execution wasn't as stellar as I hoped. The characters were annoying and unlikable. I couldn't find it in my heart to root for any of them. It's predictable. It ended in kind of a cliffhanger. Would I be reading the sequel if there's one? Probably not.