4.75⭐️
Sally Roger-Derr has become an auto-read author for me and her books keep getting better.
I am so thankful to Storm Publishing giving me a free ARC of their titles as they are always stand outs to me this allowing me to review them.

Thriller writers can become so predictable or they regurgitate others works by changing a few things but this is fairly original. The FMC Natalie is a special education teacher and you can tell that the author has first hand experience as it was written with care and accuracy. That character background wasn’t part of the main plot but it enriched the character as well as made the story come together seamlessly.

While I figured out the who’s and what’s before they were unveiled that did not take away from my enjoyment. And.. there was one twist that I did NOT see coming and
Added an extra layer to the story.

It did her a little slow around the 30% mark and had minor things that kept me from giving it a 5⭐️ for my personal tastes but it’s moot as I rounded it up for Goodreads which I rarely to.

I loved the two women in this novel. It is twisty and thrilling and is a well written tale.

Two women vying for the same man but one knows better.

it is a great domestic thriller and how the story unfolded was just exciting.

I loved the ending and for once couldn't guess what would happen next

recommended read.

Whoa! This had me flipping pages like I was on some kind of book-induced treadmill (but, you know, the fun kind). The vibes? Totally domestic drama meets thriller central. And the secrets? Let’s just say everyone here could use, like, a major truth detox.

The way the story pulled you in with its "oh no, they didn't!" moments was chef’s kiss. Like, just when I thought I knew where it was headed—BAM—curveball central! And honestly, the tension between the main characters? It had me biting my nails and reaching for popcorn at the same time.

There’s definitely a juicy mix of "yikes" and "yes girl" energy throughout, and while not every twist left me totally shook, it was still, like, a thrilling ride. Overall, it was super bingeable and, like, the perfect dose of drama. I’d totally recommend it for anyone needing a "can’t-put-it-down" moment.

Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. 💕

This book is worth a read and it is well written. However, I was hoping for a bit more excitement. I really enjoyed it up to about the half way mark but then I began to get bored and wanted Natalie to keep her nose out of things! The twists and turns lacked lustre somehow, and there were several things that were just too unbelievable. It was interesting in a way, and I’m sure lots of readers will absolutely love it. For me, there wasn’t enough intrigue or tension but I thank the publishers for the complimentary copy.

Natalie and her young daughter make a fresh start following her divorce. She remains good friends with her ex husband. Natalie starts work at a new school and makes a friend with Olivia who is married to Lucas one of the teachers at the school. Natalie and Olivia have a lot in common.
This book deals with abuse of vulnerable young women. I enjoyed the book from start to finish.

This was just OK for me, nothing different or terribly interesting. It did keep my interest, but I was hoping for a good twist -- I didn't feel it delivered that. The main characters weren't very interesting and likable, so I had a hard time rooting for them. I think this will appeal to a pretty wide audience; it just didn't appeal to me very much.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

This is my first Sally Royer-Derr read. It was really good albeit at times wordy. I loved the twists and turns and trying to figure out who was good and who was bad. The ending was great as well. Highly recommend. Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc.

I couldn't put this book down. There were times I was certain that X was going to be the person of interest. A couple chapters later I thought Y, and then Z...
I wasn't thrilled about the connection between 2 characters in the end (I don't want to spoil anything). That seemed a bit...too convenient. But overall I really liked the book.

This is another great novel by Sally Royer-Derr, tense and suspenseful as Natalie comes face to face with a teacher from her past. Lucas Hanson was her sports coach who groomed her when she was 15. He's now married to Olivia, and it seems up to his old tricks with a young girl Haley who's training at the school where Natalie works with Lucas.
Added to this and we have a mystery character who is watching Natalie's every move, just waiting to strike. Life is going to catch up with all of them and it won't be a happy ending.
Told from 3 perspectives this is a fast paced novel. I loved how Natalie tried to protect Olivia and Haley, there are characters you'll love and characters you'll hate all wrapped up in this domestic drama

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an early read of The Innocent Wife. I have loved all of Sally Royer-Derr’s books and The Innocent Wife was no exception. I was engaged from beginning to end with this story.

Thank you soooooo very much Storm Publishing and NetGalley for an Awesome book The Innocent Wife. Really good read, one part at the ending was a bit far fetched but otherwise it was great. Loved the characters especially Natalie. Super plot, sleazy teacher, awesome friends. Thanks again.

My this is a fast paced thriller. You really need to keep your wits about you to keep track of everyone and everything that is going on. It swaps a lot from one narrative to another which can be a bit tricky but does give you a better insight. Absolutely brilliant.

~thank you to Storm Publishing for giving me a chance to read & review this book.~

This was such a fast paced read & I enjoyed every minute of it. Natalie was a wonderful character , which made the story more enjoyable. The way she would do anything to protect her daughter & the ones she loves, you could tell she was a genuine person. I enjoyed how the story played out. There were some creepy aspects to it but nothing too crazy.
There was never a dull moment in this book. Nothing about this was boring or disinteresting.

Very well written. Thank you again!

This book left me feeling like I needed to read it again, in the best way! The twists were twisting, the plot was plotting! It was soo good!

My first read by Sally Royer- Derr will NOT be my last. This book is twisty and turns on a dime. There are even a few moments that left me slack-jawed saying "no way"

So yes, I highly recommend.

Natalie starts a new position on her young daughters school. Lucas, a beloved teacher and collegue is introduced, and Natalie knows he isn't the perfect husband, coworker, mentor that he's playing.
Back home his wife Olivia knows something is off, but can never put her finger on it.

As this story weaves the three of them together it is simply delicious in it's delivery. I loved every minute and encourage you to keep an eye out for it when released in January of 2025.

This is a great domestic drama that pits predators against unwilling teens. Natalie and Jake are divorced and share custody of 5-year-old daughter, Emma. But on her first day of kindergarten, Natalie--a support teacher at school--recognizes Lucas, a teacher there who was once her soccer coach and seduced her when he was 25 and she just 15. Now she's worried about Haley, a student helper she sees frequently with Lucas as she is the same age as Natalie was when she was drawn into his web. At the same time, Natalie notices odd things happening in her home: items misplaced, flowers on her porch with no note, and a crash where she is run off the road. it's a creepy, crazy ride that will have you watching your children carefully!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Fast paced, interesting thriller! Lots of twists and turns and a really satisfying ending. My first book by this author and I’ll definitely check out more!

THE INNOCENT WIFE by Sally Royer-Derr.
Release date set for the 13th of January 2025.
I have been looking forward to reading this book and BAM sally had me HOOKED from the prologue.
This book is a fast paced page turner and it's very hard to put down. I binge read this book.
There are some loveable characters and some downright awful creepy characters.
Full of twists and turns.
This is my 2nd book by sally and i cant wait to read more of her work

It's been a while since I read a Mystery / Thriller like this one and it was awesome! The story kept me on my toes, the suspense of what might happen driving me towards the next chapter.

I loved how strong and caring Natalie was. She was such a good person and an amazing mom to Emma. I loved her friendship with Olivia and her protectiveness over Harley.

Olivia was kind and quite. I loved when she stood up for herself, slowly finding the courage to see the truth and let go of lies.

The way everything went down at the end was so crazy and unexpected. But it was a little funny to be honest - the way their problems took themselves out from the equation.

I don't know why, but I was kinda expecting Natalie and Olivia to get together by the end of the book, but the happily ever after they git was pretty cool too!

The Innocent Wife is a hard-to-put-down book! From the moment I started, I wanted to do nothing but see where this book would take me.

Natalie is a single mom who teaches at her daughter's school. Unbeknownst to her, another teacher named Lucas also works at the same school. Lucas is someone from Natalie's past who she hopes she will never cross paths with again.

Olivia is Lucas's wife, whom Natalie befriends. Natalie has her secrets. Lucas has his, and Olivia is learning them all.

I have never read a book by this author, but I hope she writes many more. I really enjoyed her writing style, and the twists and turns kept me hooked from start to finish.

Thank you to NetGally and Storm Publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest book review.