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Before She Finds Me
In this shocking thriller, two unlikely mothers race to uncover the truth behind a horrific attack—even after it becomes clear that the truth will destroy one of their families.
Julia Bennett has worked hard to create a stable life for her daughter, Cora, in Southern California. So when Cora leaves for college, the worst thing Julia expects on move-in day is an argument with her ex-husband and his new wife. But a sudden attack leaves the campus stunned—and only Julia’s quick actions save Cora’s life. Shaken in the aftermath, and haunted by a dark secret, Julia starts to wonder: What if the attack wasn’t as random as everyone believes?
Newly pregnant Ren Petrovic has an unusual career—she’s a trained assassin, operating under a strict moral code. Ren wasn’t on campus that day, but she knows who was: her husband, Nolan. What she doesn’t know is why Nolan has broken their rules by not telling her about the job in advance. The more Ren looks into the attack, the more she begins to question: Who really hired Nolan? And why did one woman in the crowd respond so differently from all the rest?
Julia and Ren each want answers, but their searches quickly pit them against each other. One woman is a hired killer, but the other is a determined survivor. And both mothers will defend their families to the bitter end.
Julia Bennett has worked hard to create a stable life for her daughter, Cora, in Southern California. So when Cora leaves for college, the worst thing Julia expects on move-in day is an argument with her ex-husband and his new wife. But a sudden attack leaves the campus stunned—and only Julia’s quick actions save Cora’s life. Shaken in the aftermath, and haunted by a dark secret, Julia starts to wonder: What if the attack wasn’t as random as everyone believes?
Newly pregnant Ren Petrovic has an unusual career—she’s a trained assassin, operating under a strict moral code. Ren wasn’t on campus that day, but she knows who was: her husband, Nolan. What she doesn’t know is why Nolan has broken their rules by not telling her about the job in advance. The more Ren looks into the attack, the more she begins to question: Who really hired Nolan? And why did one woman in the crowd respond so differently from all the rest?
Julia and Ren each want answers, but their searches quickly pit them against each other. One woman is a hired killer, but the other is a determined survivor. And both mothers will defend their families to the bitter end.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published June 27, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 585 reviews
July 30, 2023
Two Badass Female MCs!
Before She Finds Me is a psychological thriller about a murder that blurs the lines between killers and victims.
An assassin and a woman with a dark past go head to head. What ensues is a masterful game of cat and mouse.
The MCs make this book. Both are strong, daring, and observant. Each is equally as interesting as the other. Dark secrets, hidden pasts, and a keen intelligence drive their chapters.
I was hooked from the start. The tone is dark, alluring, and addictive. What was happening and why it was happening added to the lure. The tension builds with each chapter, and I was never sure who was going to make it out alive.
My minor gripe is that one will need to suspend their disbelief to fully buy into the plot.
The tone, the tension, and the drama make this an unputdownable thriller that got me out of a bit of a thriller slump!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Mulholland Books in exchange for an honest review.
Before She Finds Me is a psychological thriller about a murder that blurs the lines between killers and victims.
An assassin and a woman with a dark past go head to head. What ensues is a masterful game of cat and mouse.
The MCs make this book. Both are strong, daring, and observant. Each is equally as interesting as the other. Dark secrets, hidden pasts, and a keen intelligence drive their chapters.
I was hooked from the start. The tone is dark, alluring, and addictive. What was happening and why it was happening added to the lure. The tension builds with each chapter, and I was never sure who was going to make it out alive.
My minor gripe is that one will need to suspend their disbelief to fully buy into the plot.
The tone, the tension, and the drama make this an unputdownable thriller that got me out of a bit of a thriller slump!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Mulholland Books in exchange for an honest review.
June 19, 2023
4.5 ⭐️
I’ll be honest-I would not have requested this book, as stories featuring assassins don’t really appeal to me-but when it arrived in my mailbox 📕📬 I decided to give it a try!
I am REALLY glad that I did, as it was one of my FAVORITE thrillers this year!
Newly pregnant Ren Petrovic is an assassin-trained by her father, specializing in death by poison. She married Nolan, another assassin, who is an expert marksman, and the three share a strict moral code-
SHIELD THE INNOCENT-KILL THE GUILTY-DEFEND THE FAMILY.
At least, that’s what they tell themselves to justify their killing.
Julia Bennett is a survivor. She has worked hard to overcome her past and provide her daughter Cora with the stable upbringing that she didn’t have. Although she and her husband, Eric divorced and she often felt has if she was raising Cora on her own, those circumstances and her corny sense of humor served to make them closer.
Its move in day at the dorms of Anderson-Hughes College in Point Loma, Ca.
Eric and his new wife, Brie have just arrived and joined Julia and Cora to celebrate-when there is a shooting on campus. Julia’s quick reflexes save her daughter, who suffers only a bullet graze on her arm, but Brie is shot point blank in her forehead.
Ren realizes that the shooting was her husband’s work-so why did he break their rules and not tell her about it beforehand?
Julia begins to suspect that this shooting wasn’t random. But, why would someone want Brie dead?
Each woman’s search for answers will lead them to the truth-and to each other-but will it be possible for both women to survive?
I haven’t read this author’s work before, but Heather Chavez seems to be a gifted, natural storyteller. The two alternating narratives of Julia and Ren, were equally compelling, and I found myself easily immersed in both stories from their opening chapters.
I buddy read this with DeAnn who picked up on a clue, and although we ultimately put it together from there, it was fun to see if our suspicions would be correct. That also means that it was PLAUSIBLE, and didn’t have an ending that came out of left field, which is a BIG PLUS for me!
That’s not to say that there weren’t any surprises to be had-the ending had those as well!!
Oh, and by the way-I WILL be requesting the author’s next! ✍🏻
A buddy read with DeAnn and Susan-was it a 5 ⭐️ read for them as well? Check out their reviews!
AVAILABLE June 27, 2023
Thank You to Mulholland Books for the surprise gifted copy! It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
I’ll be honest-I would not have requested this book, as stories featuring assassins don’t really appeal to me-but when it arrived in my mailbox 📕📬 I decided to give it a try!
I am REALLY glad that I did, as it was one of my FAVORITE thrillers this year!
Newly pregnant Ren Petrovic is an assassin-trained by her father, specializing in death by poison. She married Nolan, another assassin, who is an expert marksman, and the three share a strict moral code-
SHIELD THE INNOCENT-KILL THE GUILTY-DEFEND THE FAMILY.
At least, that’s what they tell themselves to justify their killing.
Julia Bennett is a survivor. She has worked hard to overcome her past and provide her daughter Cora with the stable upbringing that she didn’t have. Although she and her husband, Eric divorced and she often felt has if she was raising Cora on her own, those circumstances and her corny sense of humor served to make them closer.
Its move in day at the dorms of Anderson-Hughes College in Point Loma, Ca.
Eric and his new wife, Brie have just arrived and joined Julia and Cora to celebrate-when there is a shooting on campus. Julia’s quick reflexes save her daughter, who suffers only a bullet graze on her arm, but Brie is shot point blank in her forehead.
Ren realizes that the shooting was her husband’s work-so why did he break their rules and not tell her about it beforehand?
Julia begins to suspect that this shooting wasn’t random. But, why would someone want Brie dead?
Each woman’s search for answers will lead them to the truth-and to each other-but will it be possible for both women to survive?
I haven’t read this author’s work before, but Heather Chavez seems to be a gifted, natural storyteller. The two alternating narratives of Julia and Ren, were equally compelling, and I found myself easily immersed in both stories from their opening chapters.
I buddy read this with DeAnn who picked up on a clue, and although we ultimately put it together from there, it was fun to see if our suspicions would be correct. That also means that it was PLAUSIBLE, and didn’t have an ending that came out of left field, which is a BIG PLUS for me!
That’s not to say that there weren’t any surprises to be had-the ending had those as well!!
Oh, and by the way-I WILL be requesting the author’s next! ✍🏻
A buddy read with DeAnn and Susan-was it a 5 ⭐️ read for them as well? Check out their reviews!
AVAILABLE June 27, 2023
Thank You to Mulholland Books for the surprise gifted copy! It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
March 4, 2023
A clever and suspenseful thriller revolving around a contract killing gone wrong!
Told from the POV's of Ren and Julia.
Following in her fathers’ footsteps, Ren grew up to be an assassin. She even married another killer, keeping it all in the family. (Now that’s commitment!) But what happens when Ren’s husband takes a new contract without Ren having time to research the job? Well… Nothing good! I'll tell you that!
Now it’s up to Ren to clean up the mess. Alas, a woman’s work is never done!😜
So far, Julia has managed to keep her past from her daughter Cora. But is karma catching up to her? Julia will do whatever it takes to keep her daughter safe and can easily pivot to play the part of protective mama bear if needed!
This book kept me hooked from the first page to the last. There were some unexpected twists along the way and I’m happy to say, all my guesses were wrong. I’ll be handing in my junior-detectives cap right about now.🕵🏻♀️
This was my second read by this author. While I enjoyed her previous book No Bad Deed, this was even better! Can’t wait to see what she comes up with next! Meanwhile I still have one more of her books in reserve!
A buddy read with Susanne!
Thank you to NetGaley and Mulholland Books
Told from the POV's of Ren and Julia.
Following in her fathers’ footsteps, Ren grew up to be an assassin. She even married another killer, keeping it all in the family. (Now that’s commitment!) But what happens when Ren’s husband takes a new contract without Ren having time to research the job? Well… Nothing good! I'll tell you that!
Now it’s up to Ren to clean up the mess. Alas, a woman’s work is never done!😜
So far, Julia has managed to keep her past from her daughter Cora. But is karma catching up to her? Julia will do whatever it takes to keep her daughter safe and can easily pivot to play the part of protective mama bear if needed!
This book kept me hooked from the first page to the last. There were some unexpected twists along the way and I’m happy to say, all my guesses were wrong. I’ll be handing in my junior-detectives cap right about now.🕵🏻♀️
This was my second read by this author. While I enjoyed her previous book No Bad Deed, this was even better! Can’t wait to see what she comes up with next! Meanwhile I still have one more of her books in reserve!
A buddy read with Susanne!
Thank you to NetGaley and Mulholland Books
August 9, 2023
Before She Finds Me by Heather Chavez starts with a literal bang when a sniper attack throws a college campus into chaos on freshman move-in day.
The happy day turns deadly with two parents fatally wounded and a student injured in the attack.
Sure, it could have been much worse, but Julia — mom of the injured student and whose own tragic past has made her hyper-vigilant, noticing even the slightest thing that is amiss — has a terrible feeling the shooting may not be as random as it first appeared.
Enter husband-wife assassin team, Nolan and Ren.
Ren was raised by a contract killer with a strict code: Shield The Innocent. Kill The Guilty. Defend The Family.
Meticulous about her research and timing, turns out, Ren’s husband went rogue and then botched the job. Oopsy.
And so begins the cat-and-mouse game between Ren and Julia, each trying to determine exactly what happened that day on campus…and who actually hired the hit.
Before She Finds Me is the story of two women whose lives become entwined and on an inevitable collision course.
Get out the popcorn and prepare to stay up late, turning the pages to see how it all plays out. 🐈 🐁
The happy day turns deadly with two parents fatally wounded and a student injured in the attack.
Sure, it could have been much worse, but Julia — mom of the injured student and whose own tragic past has made her hyper-vigilant, noticing even the slightest thing that is amiss — has a terrible feeling the shooting may not be as random as it first appeared.
Enter husband-wife assassin team, Nolan and Ren.
Ren was raised by a contract killer with a strict code: Shield The Innocent. Kill The Guilty. Defend The Family.
Meticulous about her research and timing, turns out, Ren’s husband went rogue and then botched the job. Oopsy.
And so begins the cat-and-mouse game between Ren and Julia, each trying to determine exactly what happened that day on campus…and who actually hired the hit.
Before She Finds Me is the story of two women whose lives become entwined and on an inevitable collision course.
Get out the popcorn and prepare to stay up late, turning the pages to see how it all plays out. 🐈 🐁
August 4, 2024
**3.5-stars**
Before She Finds Me is the latest release from Heather Chavez. I went into this very excited, as I really enjoyed Chavez's two earlier releases, No Bad Deed and Blood Will Tell.
In this novel we follow the perspectives of two different women, Julia and Ren. On the surface, these women are as different as different can be, but their lives are about to become entangled in some pretty serious ways.
On the day Julia is moving her daughter, Cora, into her new college dorm, a viscous, seemingly senseless attack rocks the campus and leaves Cora injured.
It's only due to Julia's quick reaction that Cora wasn't more seriously hurt. Unable to stop thinking about the event, Julia starts to question whether it was as random as everyone else seems to think.
Ren, pregnant with her first child, is a trained assassin, as is her husband, Nolan. Ren doesn't know Julia and she wasn't on the campus that day, but she knows who was, Nolan, and he's left a big ole' mess in his wake.
Ren needs to clean-up after him. After watching footage of the incident numerous times, Ren is curious about the woman in the crowd with the unbelievable reaction time. Who is she and what, if any, is her connection to this job?
When both women begin to hunt for answers, it's inevitable that their paths are going to cross and their going to find themselves on opposing sides. With both Ren and Julia willing to risk it all to protect their families, which mother is going to come out of this alive?
Y'all, I went into this one with the highest of hopes. I found both of Chavez's earlier novels to be engrossing and fast-paced. I had a blast with them. While I have read many great reviews for this newest book, I just could not connect with it.
The opening scenes were intense as heck, but then it slowed way down. By 21%, I was feeling nothing. I could have taken it, or left it. I just kept reading other reviews and they were glowing. I decided to keep going.
By 50%, I was contemplating giving up, but again, the rave reviews kept me going. I started feeling myself going into a slump. It felt like I had been reading it forever.
Don't get me wrong, it's not the writing. I still really enjoy Chavez's writing. It's fluid, well-thought out and her characters feel real. However, the plot was plodding along slower than a snail crawling up hill.
Frankly, I don't know if snails crawl slower going up hill, but you get the picture.
When I finished, it was cause for celebration.
At that time, if you asked me how long it had taken me to read this, I would have guessed 6-weeks, but it was actually just shy of a month. It wasn't fun.
This made it tricky for me to rate. I love Chavez and her writing, but it's clear this one didn't hit for me. My personal experience was more of a 2-star, but I know there is a good story in here and if you can be drawn into it, or into the characters, I know you will have a good time with it.
So, with all this being said, and my tiny complaints aired, just ignore me. Go read all of the 4-star and 5-star reviews for this one. If you have any interest at all, give it a shot.
I will definitely be continuing to pick up all of Chavez's books as they are released. Just because this one didn't knock me out of the park, doesn't mean the next one won't.
Thank you to the publisher, Mulholland Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I look forward to seeing what Heather Chavez comes up with next!
Before She Finds Me is the latest release from Heather Chavez. I went into this very excited, as I really enjoyed Chavez's two earlier releases, No Bad Deed and Blood Will Tell.
In this novel we follow the perspectives of two different women, Julia and Ren. On the surface, these women are as different as different can be, but their lives are about to become entangled in some pretty serious ways.
On the day Julia is moving her daughter, Cora, into her new college dorm, a viscous, seemingly senseless attack rocks the campus and leaves Cora injured.
It's only due to Julia's quick reaction that Cora wasn't more seriously hurt. Unable to stop thinking about the event, Julia starts to question whether it was as random as everyone else seems to think.
Ren, pregnant with her first child, is a trained assassin, as is her husband, Nolan. Ren doesn't know Julia and she wasn't on the campus that day, but she knows who was, Nolan, and he's left a big ole' mess in his wake.
Ren needs to clean-up after him. After watching footage of the incident numerous times, Ren is curious about the woman in the crowd with the unbelievable reaction time. Who is she and what, if any, is her connection to this job?
When both women begin to hunt for answers, it's inevitable that their paths are going to cross and their going to find themselves on opposing sides. With both Ren and Julia willing to risk it all to protect their families, which mother is going to come out of this alive?
Y'all, I went into this one with the highest of hopes. I found both of Chavez's earlier novels to be engrossing and fast-paced. I had a blast with them. While I have read many great reviews for this newest book, I just could not connect with it.
The opening scenes were intense as heck, but then it slowed way down. By 21%, I was feeling nothing. I could have taken it, or left it. I just kept reading other reviews and they were glowing. I decided to keep going.
By 50%, I was contemplating giving up, but again, the rave reviews kept me going. I started feeling myself going into a slump. It felt like I had been reading it forever.
Don't get me wrong, it's not the writing. I still really enjoy Chavez's writing. It's fluid, well-thought out and her characters feel real. However, the plot was plodding along slower than a snail crawling up hill.
Frankly, I don't know if snails crawl slower going up hill, but you get the picture.
When I finished, it was cause for celebration.
At that time, if you asked me how long it had taken me to read this, I would have guessed 6-weeks, but it was actually just shy of a month. It wasn't fun.
This made it tricky for me to rate. I love Chavez and her writing, but it's clear this one didn't hit for me. My personal experience was more of a 2-star, but I know there is a good story in here and if you can be drawn into it, or into the characters, I know you will have a good time with it.
So, with all this being said, and my tiny complaints aired, just ignore me. Go read all of the 4-star and 5-star reviews for this one. If you have any interest at all, give it a shot.
I will definitely be continuing to pick up all of Chavez's books as they are released. Just because this one didn't knock me out of the park, doesn't mean the next one won't.
Thank you to the publisher, Mulholland Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I look forward to seeing what Heather Chavez comes up with next!
June 1, 2023
This was one intense ride!! 😳 Meet Ren and Nolan… A husband and wife assassin team….sounds like a interesting dinner conversation at the holidays with the family right?!😂… Well guess again.. the apple 🍎 didn’t fall from the tree.. 😳.. Can you imagine?? 😬.. Oh but no worries..they only can be hired to kill morally corrupt people… or SO they say..😉
As if that alone wasn’t interesting enough…. meet Julia, Brie, Cora and Eric.. some of their victims… okay wait.. they don’t like to call them victims… because… well they deserved it right?! 😬😳
Wow! This was intense right out of the gate. Alternating POV’s… deceit… secrets 🤫.. and some killer twists…. that I never saw coming!! 🤯
This was my first @iamhrchavez book and it definitely delivered. I can’t wait to read her backlist!! 🤩
As if that alone wasn’t interesting enough…. meet Julia, Brie, Cora and Eric.. some of their victims… okay wait.. they don’t like to call them victims… because… well they deserved it right?! 😬😳
Wow! This was intense right out of the gate. Alternating POV’s… deceit… secrets 🤫.. and some killer twists…. that I never saw coming!! 🤯
This was my first @iamhrchavez book and it definitely delivered. I can’t wait to read her backlist!! 🤩
August 15, 2023
”Shield the innocent. Kill the guilty. Defend the family."
A story of betrayal, manipulation, murder, love and the lengths that mothers will go to to protect their families. It's a well-crafted and original thriller.
After a shooting at a college campus leaves Julia Bennet's daughter Cora injured and her ex-husband Eric's new wife dead, To save those she loves from even greater danger, she must find out what happened that day in the courtyard of the campus Julia is desperate to make sense of the incident. Something about the shooting doesn't seem random, and Julia is reeling from knowing that someone is targeting her family. As a teen, she has already lost her parents to a senseless act of violence and is determined to protect her daughter at any cost. The tone is dark, alluring, and addictive. What was happening and why it was happening added to the lure. The tension builds with each chapter. The author cleverly used short chapters, ending them with cliffhangers, which kept me on the edge of my seat and engaged. I wanted to know what would happen next and found it challenging to put the book down.
The story that unfolds is taught and complex, and the impending doom that awaited the characters kept me glued to the pages and intently listening to the audio. There are plenty of secrets uncovered. And are equally compelling. There are plenty of twists and red herrings along the way. But what blew me away was the final reveal that wasn't over the top and made it feel (more plausible for me, anyway)
Ren Petrovic is puzzled when she learns of her husband's involvement in the college campus shooting. She and Nolan are professional assassins who only accept assignments under their "strict moral code."— (learned from her father) So he'd not only taken this job without telling her, but he also seemed to have made a fatal mistake and was hiding something crucial from her. Ren must figure out precisely what went wrong to protect her and her unborn child's futures.
The story opens with a burst of action, and the tension builds steadily as Julia and Ren attempt to find answers, unravelling the secrets and lies that threaten their family's safety. Clever plotting provides intrigue with several red herrings, and the twists enhance the momentum. The final scenes that pit the women against each other had me holding my breath. I loved every minute of this wild ride.
Julia and Ren are compelling and complex characters whose alternating viewpoints tell this story well. Though the women have similar goals, they are on opposing forces. Ren seems likely to have an edge as an assassin, but Julia's fierce love for her daughter lends her strength and focus. Both women engender sympathy for different reasons, and there's a lot of grey area, so it's not as easy as you might think to choose a side.
Its strong characterization and original plot taught suspense and complexity, and the impending doom that awaited the characters kept me glued to the pages. There are plenty of twists and red herrings along the way. But what blew me away was the final shocking reveal. I was riveted from the beginning to the end. I enjoyed reading my first book by this author and am excited to look into her backlist. I paired the audio with my library copy of the book. I thought Megan Tusing did an excellent job with the narration and made the suspense and tension more palpable.
This is my second audiobook, and I don't know why I didn't listen to them earlier while listening to a voice narrating a book. It can boost my moods and disrupts negative thinking patterns with my anxiety and depression; it has been a great tool to use. I thank all my GR friends for their suggestions about listening to audiobooks.
A story of betrayal, manipulation, murder, love and the lengths that mothers will go to to protect their families. It's a well-crafted and original thriller.
After a shooting at a college campus leaves Julia Bennet's daughter Cora injured and her ex-husband Eric's new wife dead, To save those she loves from even greater danger, she must find out what happened that day in the courtyard of the campus Julia is desperate to make sense of the incident. Something about the shooting doesn't seem random, and Julia is reeling from knowing that someone is targeting her family. As a teen, she has already lost her parents to a senseless act of violence and is determined to protect her daughter at any cost. The tone is dark, alluring, and addictive. What was happening and why it was happening added to the lure. The tension builds with each chapter. The author cleverly used short chapters, ending them with cliffhangers, which kept me on the edge of my seat and engaged. I wanted to know what would happen next and found it challenging to put the book down.
The story that unfolds is taught and complex, and the impending doom that awaited the characters kept me glued to the pages and intently listening to the audio. There are plenty of secrets uncovered. And are equally compelling. There are plenty of twists and red herrings along the way. But what blew me away was the final reveal that wasn't over the top and made it feel (more plausible for me, anyway)
Ren Petrovic is puzzled when she learns of her husband's involvement in the college campus shooting. She and Nolan are professional assassins who only accept assignments under their "strict moral code."— (learned from her father) So he'd not only taken this job without telling her, but he also seemed to have made a fatal mistake and was hiding something crucial from her. Ren must figure out precisely what went wrong to protect her and her unborn child's futures.
The story opens with a burst of action, and the tension builds steadily as Julia and Ren attempt to find answers, unravelling the secrets and lies that threaten their family's safety. Clever plotting provides intrigue with several red herrings, and the twists enhance the momentum. The final scenes that pit the women against each other had me holding my breath. I loved every minute of this wild ride.
Julia and Ren are compelling and complex characters whose alternating viewpoints tell this story well. Though the women have similar goals, they are on opposing forces. Ren seems likely to have an edge as an assassin, but Julia's fierce love for her daughter lends her strength and focus. Both women engender sympathy for different reasons, and there's a lot of grey area, so it's not as easy as you might think to choose a side.
Its strong characterization and original plot taught suspense and complexity, and the impending doom that awaited the characters kept me glued to the pages. There are plenty of twists and red herrings along the way. But what blew me away was the final shocking reveal. I was riveted from the beginning to the end. I enjoyed reading my first book by this author and am excited to look into her backlist. I paired the audio with my library copy of the book. I thought Megan Tusing did an excellent job with the narration and made the suspense and tension more palpable.
This is my second audiobook, and I don't know why I didn't listen to them earlier while listening to a voice narrating a book. It can boost my moods and disrupts negative thinking patterns with my anxiety and depression; it has been a great tool to use. I thank all my GR friends for their suggestions about listening to audiobooks.
June 23, 2023
A Penny For Your Thoughts.
…or a nickel, a dime, or maybe a quarter?
Small change, but each plays a significant role as hit woman Ren takes one from every target "to remember them by”.
Not an avaricious person, she has definite parameters regarding which jobs she’ll accept based on her personal morals. So, when her husband, also a contract killer, becomes secretive and completes a job without telling her prior, she becomes concerned.
On the opposite side of the coin (sorry, but I had to!) is Julia, a mom attempting to navigate divorce, her ex-husband’s new wife, and her priority to keep her daughter safe.
Strong female leads Ren and Julia are both savvy, brave, and resourceful. I loved reading about them and I was highly invested in their outcomes. Their respective partners (including exes) not so much.
I gravitate toward hit-person stories and this book was exceptional for the genre. Balancing backstory, family relationships, and a high body count without undue gore set off a taut high wire act and I was transfixed.
I highly recommend this and want to thank a friend for posting me her physical copy.
Publishing in a few days on June 27 2023.
…or a nickel, a dime, or maybe a quarter?
Small change, but each plays a significant role as hit woman Ren takes one from every target "to remember them by”.
Not an avaricious person, she has definite parameters regarding which jobs she’ll accept based on her personal morals. So, when her husband, also a contract killer, becomes secretive and completes a job without telling her prior, she becomes concerned.
On the opposite side of the coin (sorry, but I had to!) is Julia, a mom attempting to navigate divorce, her ex-husband’s new wife, and her priority to keep her daughter safe.
Strong female leads Ren and Julia are both savvy, brave, and resourceful. I loved reading about them and I was highly invested in their outcomes. Their respective partners (including exes) not so much.
I gravitate toward hit-person stories and this book was exceptional for the genre. Balancing backstory, family relationships, and a high body count without undue gore set off a taut high wire act and I was transfixed.
I highly recommend this and want to thank a friend for posting me her physical copy.
Publishing in a few days on June 27 2023.
Want to read
July 17, 2023DNF at 30%
Sending my library kindle copy back.....
Just can't get into it and ready to move on!
Sending my library kindle copy back.....
Just can't get into it and ready to move on!
August 19, 2023
I enjoyed this story.
Julia Bennett is a devoted divorced mother to her daughter, Cora. On moving in day, while everyone is excited and the campus is crowded, Julia, her ex husband, Eric, and his new wife, Brie, are there as well. Sadly, so is an assassin, Nolan, who shoots into the group, and kills two and wounds Cora. Thanks to the quick wits of Julia, Cora only receives a surface wound before her mother pushes her to the ground, but her ex's new wife is now dead.
Meanwhile, Ren Petrovic, newly pregnant women, who wasn't present that day, knows who was. It was her assassin husband, Nolan. Both Ren and Nolan share the same occupation. Their jobs are to assassinate people hired by those who want a wrong righted or so Ren believes. She has been well trained by her father who also led the life of a modern day vigilante. Their motto is "SHIELD THE INNOCENT-KILL THE GUILTY-DEFEND THE FAMILY."
However, Ren has a very unsettling feeling about this job her husband performed and as the story continues and we delve into motivations, Ren becomes increasingly interested in Julia's quick reactions.
You realize there will be a confrontation between the ladies and what will that outcome be? Clever and well, written, Heather Chavez sends us on a mission to witness the demise of some, and the triumphs of others.
This was a good find at my library and I am eternally grateful to all who work to bring us these books.
Julia Bennett is a devoted divorced mother to her daughter, Cora. On moving in day, while everyone is excited and the campus is crowded, Julia, her ex husband, Eric, and his new wife, Brie, are there as well. Sadly, so is an assassin, Nolan, who shoots into the group, and kills two and wounds Cora. Thanks to the quick wits of Julia, Cora only receives a surface wound before her mother pushes her to the ground, but her ex's new wife is now dead.
Meanwhile, Ren Petrovic, newly pregnant women, who wasn't present that day, knows who was. It was her assassin husband, Nolan. Both Ren and Nolan share the same occupation. Their jobs are to assassinate people hired by those who want a wrong righted or so Ren believes. She has been well trained by her father who also led the life of a modern day vigilante. Their motto is "SHIELD THE INNOCENT-KILL THE GUILTY-DEFEND THE FAMILY."
However, Ren has a very unsettling feeling about this job her husband performed and as the story continues and we delve into motivations, Ren becomes increasingly interested in Julia's quick reactions.
You realize there will be a confrontation between the ladies and what will that outcome be? Clever and well, written, Heather Chavez sends us on a mission to witness the demise of some, and the triumphs of others.
This was a good find at my library and I am eternally grateful to all who work to bring us these books.
February 8, 2024
Julia Bennett hasn’t exactly led an easy life, which is why she’s always aimed to protect the one person she’d do anything for—her daughter, Cora. Despite this, however, the day has finally come when she’s ready to fly the coop and start college. Needless to say, dropping Cora off on campus to move into her dorm is the last place she wants to be. The crowds, her ex-husband, Eric, and his new wife, Brie, don’t help matters either.
Standing around waiting for Cora to check in, however, things quickly go from bad to worse. Before she realizes it, Julia hears the ricochet of a gun firing and sees blood. Thanks to quick thinking and even faster actions, she manages to keep Cora safe. But as the shock begins to wear thin and Julia sees the shooting replayed on the news, she begins to wonder. What if this supposedly random event wasn’t random at all?
For Ren Petrovic, the same news footage brings other thoughts to her mind. A trained assassin who works side by side with her husband, Nolan, she is worried that he might actually be the one behind the attack. With a moral code to guide her actions, it’s not a job she would’ve normally accepted, but perhaps there’s more to the story. What really irks her, though, is the fact that he has hidden the hit. Who hired Nolan? And why has he kept it secret from her?
As Julia and Ren fight to discover the truth, they become embroiled in a cutthroat battle of wits. After all, one is a fierce survivor and the other a meticulous assassin. At the end of the day, one will win and one will lose. All that matters is protecting their loved ones with everything that they’ve got. So who, when all is said and done, will be the one left standing?
What a total mind-trip of a book. Filled with adrenaline-fueled action but also endearing insights into how the past impacts one’s nature, Before She Finds Me had me from hello. Addictive and altogether unputdownable, the epic tale followed the dark cat-and-mouse game of assassin versus potential victim as everyone searched for the truth. But it was the softer side that sold me on the premise—the depths one would go for family—which was also an aspect I didn’t expect.
The biggest winning piece to this dynamite puzzle, though, were easily the two main characters at the center of the plot. Strong women who held well-hidden secrets which they had been protecting with their common sense and intelligence, both also took to heart what it means to be a mother. Neither was willing to back down, no matter the cost. With more similarities than either would care to admit, they nevertheless faced off in a masterful game of wits.
Paired beautifully with the characters was the intense, perfectly built plot. With suspense ratcheting higher and higher, the pacing was solid and sure. Told via the dual alternating POVs of Julia and Ren, the short chapters and cliffhanger endings meant I repeatedly read just one more page no matter the late hour. Then there was the climax that felt pulled from the best of the best silver screen thriller and a conclusion that wrapped it all up with just one more soul satisfying surprise.
The only piece to this well-engineered rollercoaster ride that I didn’t absolutely love was the requirement to suspend all disbelief. Just the same, I was beyond happy to do it as the trip I just took was so very near perfection. Between the deftly buried secrets, well-hidden lies, and crafty misdirection, I was spellbound until the very last page.
Done and dusted, I was utterly floored by how much I loved this psychological popcorn thriller. With plenty of morally gray characters and some truly epic drama, I never knew what to expect or if a superbly timed twist was going throw a wrench in my guesses. After all, my sleuthing was happily wrecked more than once and I couldn’t have been happier each and every time. Twisty, unique, and an out-and-out winner, this one was an altogether triumph to this thriller loving gal. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Thank you to Heather Chavez and Mulholland Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Trigger warning: mass shooting, death of a spouse, stalking, attempted rape, drug overdose, fatal shooting, mention of: carbon monoxide poisoning, infidelity, death of a parent
Standing around waiting for Cora to check in, however, things quickly go from bad to worse. Before she realizes it, Julia hears the ricochet of a gun firing and sees blood. Thanks to quick thinking and even faster actions, she manages to keep Cora safe. But as the shock begins to wear thin and Julia sees the shooting replayed on the news, she begins to wonder. What if this supposedly random event wasn’t random at all?
For Ren Petrovic, the same news footage brings other thoughts to her mind. A trained assassin who works side by side with her husband, Nolan, she is worried that he might actually be the one behind the attack. With a moral code to guide her actions, it’s not a job she would’ve normally accepted, but perhaps there’s more to the story. What really irks her, though, is the fact that he has hidden the hit. Who hired Nolan? And why has he kept it secret from her?
As Julia and Ren fight to discover the truth, they become embroiled in a cutthroat battle of wits. After all, one is a fierce survivor and the other a meticulous assassin. At the end of the day, one will win and one will lose. All that matters is protecting their loved ones with everything that they’ve got. So who, when all is said and done, will be the one left standing?
What a total mind-trip of a book. Filled with adrenaline-fueled action but also endearing insights into how the past impacts one’s nature, Before She Finds Me had me from hello. Addictive and altogether unputdownable, the epic tale followed the dark cat-and-mouse game of assassin versus potential victim as everyone searched for the truth. But it was the softer side that sold me on the premise—the depths one would go for family—which was also an aspect I didn’t expect.
The biggest winning piece to this dynamite puzzle, though, were easily the two main characters at the center of the plot. Strong women who held well-hidden secrets which they had been protecting with their common sense and intelligence, both also took to heart what it means to be a mother. Neither was willing to back down, no matter the cost. With more similarities than either would care to admit, they nevertheless faced off in a masterful game of wits.
Paired beautifully with the characters was the intense, perfectly built plot. With suspense ratcheting higher and higher, the pacing was solid and sure. Told via the dual alternating POVs of Julia and Ren, the short chapters and cliffhanger endings meant I repeatedly read just one more page no matter the late hour. Then there was the climax that felt pulled from the best of the best silver screen thriller and a conclusion that wrapped it all up with just one more soul satisfying surprise.
The only piece to this well-engineered rollercoaster ride that I didn’t absolutely love was the requirement to suspend all disbelief. Just the same, I was beyond happy to do it as the trip I just took was so very near perfection. Between the deftly buried secrets, well-hidden lies, and crafty misdirection, I was spellbound until the very last page.
Done and dusted, I was utterly floored by how much I loved this psychological popcorn thriller. With plenty of morally gray characters and some truly epic drama, I never knew what to expect or if a superbly timed twist was going throw a wrench in my guesses. After all, my sleuthing was happily wrecked more than once and I couldn’t have been happier each and every time. Twisty, unique, and an out-and-out winner, this one was an altogether triumph to this thriller loving gal. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Thank you to Heather Chavez and Mulholland Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Trigger warning: mass shooting, death of a spouse, stalking, attempted rape, drug overdose, fatal shooting, mention of: carbon monoxide poisoning, infidelity, death of a parent
September 1, 2023
A heart pounding thriller for sure! Many twists and turns, and the audiobook narrator was fantastic. Highly recommended!
December 8, 2023
“Shield the innocent. Kill the guilty. Defend the family.”
Julia Bennett is a good mother. She has raised her daughter, Cora the best way she can. Cora is moving to college and Julia is terrified of letting her go but she knows she must. When the moving date occurs, Julia is also dreading the interaction between Cora and her ex-husband Eric, and his new wife, Brie. Then, the unimaginable happens, a sniper is shooting people down. Julia jumps in to protect her daughter from the attack. The shooter leaves fatalities behind. Julia starts doubting that the attack was random but who were the targets?
Ren Petrovic is an assassin married to Nolan who is also an assassin. Ren is pregnant and is looking forward to motherhood. She believes in a code of conduct and in her book only evil people should be eliminated. Getting paid while doing it is only a plus. Ren prefers poison to firearms but she can shoot if needed. When she learns of the attack, she immediately believes her husband is the shooter but why did he take a job without telling her?
Before She Finds Me was a riveting story that had me glued to the pages up to the very end! I love both female characters. Tough women in their own way. I was hoping for both to survive what was definitely coming for them.
Cliffhanger: No
5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Mulholland Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Julia Bennett is a good mother. She has raised her daughter, Cora the best way she can. Cora is moving to college and Julia is terrified of letting her go but she knows she must. When the moving date occurs, Julia is also dreading the interaction between Cora and her ex-husband Eric, and his new wife, Brie. Then, the unimaginable happens, a sniper is shooting people down. Julia jumps in to protect her daughter from the attack. The shooter leaves fatalities behind. Julia starts doubting that the attack was random but who were the targets?
Ren Petrovic is an assassin married to Nolan who is also an assassin. Ren is pregnant and is looking forward to motherhood. She believes in a code of conduct and in her book only evil people should be eliminated. Getting paid while doing it is only a plus. Ren prefers poison to firearms but she can shoot if needed. When she learns of the attack, she immediately believes her husband is the shooter but why did he take a job without telling her?
Before She Finds Me was a riveting story that had me glued to the pages up to the very end! I love both female characters. Tough women in their own way. I was hoping for both to survive what was definitely coming for them.
Cliffhanger: No
5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Mulholland Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
July 25, 2023
This was a very interesting thriller told in two perspectives Julia whose daughter Cora was about to start college and Ren an assassin who is about to be a mother herself. I liked the story, but it was a little slow for me in the beginning and it took me a while to get really into it. Once I did the story flew by and I was pleased with the twists and turns that occurred. I liked both narrators a lot. Julia is terrified when a shooting happens at her daughter’s first day at college especially since her daughter was shot, although due to Julia’s pulling her away it was only a minor injury. But the more Julia looks at it the more she realizes that it wasn’t likely random and she is terrified that her daughter may still be in danger.
March 6, 2023
A mass shooting takes place on a college campus. Julia’s daughter is injured and ex- husband Eric’s wife Brie is killed. Many secrets and lies are uncovered. This was a great read and had several shocking twists.
Thanks NetGalley and Mulholland Books for this ARC that will be released June 27th 2023!
Thanks NetGalley and Mulholland Books for this ARC that will be released June 27th 2023!
June 30, 2023
✨ REVIEW ✨
Before She Finds Me
By Heather Chavez
Pub: 6/27/2023
Many thanks to Mulholland Books for my gifted eARC and finished copy, and Hachette Audio and LibroFm for the ALC. ❤️
About: Julia Bennett is a divorced, single mom of a teenager named Cora. Cora is heading off to college, and her mom, dad, and dad's new wife are there to support her on move-in day. While the dorm residents and their families are gathered on campus, a gunman opens fire on the crowd. Was this a random display of violence by a crazed gunman? Or was this a targeted attack? No stranger to violence, Julia intends to find out who was behind the shooting and why, even if it draws up old memories she'd rather forget.
Newly pregnant Ren Petrovic is an assassin with morals. She doesn't like guns, she doesn't like profanity, and she only kills people who truly deserve to die. She and her husband, who's also an assassin, have a strict moral code. So when it appears her husband may have been behind the college shooting, and may have broken their code, Ren is determined to piece together what exactly went down, and what it means for her growing family.
These two mothers are on opposite sides, but both working toward the same goal: find out what happened and who ordered the kill. It's the only way they can protect their children. The question is, who will arrive at the truth first?
Thoughts: I absolutely LOVED THIS BOOK. It's a multilayered web of lies, betrayal and manipulation. The reader won't know who to trust when everyone's a suspect.
Both protagonists were skillfully written with such strong personalities. The reader really gets a feel for who they are at their core. Julia, who has a dark past, is a fiercely protective mother who will do whatever it takes to keep her daughter safe. And though Ren is an assassin, Chavez writes her in such a way that the reader can't help but respect her, empathize with her, and even root for her at times. I LOVED the way the author made Ren a bit of goodie-goodie; such a fun juxtaposition to her career choice.
This book was perfectly paced, and unputdownable from beginning to end. The plot is so smart, so well thought out, and brilliantly executed. I will be recommending this one all summer long! What a great thriller!
Editing to add: I read my print copy along with the audiobook and the audiobook narrator, Megan Tusing, was fantastic! I never got the characters confused as she had very different voices for each of them. She really captured the different characters and made this even more enjoyable. If you're an audiobook fan, this is the format I'd recommend!
Before She Finds Me
By Heather Chavez
Pub: 6/27/2023
Many thanks to Mulholland Books for my gifted eARC and finished copy, and Hachette Audio and LibroFm for the ALC. ❤️
About: Julia Bennett is a divorced, single mom of a teenager named Cora. Cora is heading off to college, and her mom, dad, and dad's new wife are there to support her on move-in day. While the dorm residents and their families are gathered on campus, a gunman opens fire on the crowd. Was this a random display of violence by a crazed gunman? Or was this a targeted attack? No stranger to violence, Julia intends to find out who was behind the shooting and why, even if it draws up old memories she'd rather forget.
Newly pregnant Ren Petrovic is an assassin with morals. She doesn't like guns, she doesn't like profanity, and she only kills people who truly deserve to die. She and her husband, who's also an assassin, have a strict moral code. So when it appears her husband may have been behind the college shooting, and may have broken their code, Ren is determined to piece together what exactly went down, and what it means for her growing family.
These two mothers are on opposite sides, but both working toward the same goal: find out what happened and who ordered the kill. It's the only way they can protect their children. The question is, who will arrive at the truth first?
Thoughts: I absolutely LOVED THIS BOOK. It's a multilayered web of lies, betrayal and manipulation. The reader won't know who to trust when everyone's a suspect.
Both protagonists were skillfully written with such strong personalities. The reader really gets a feel for who they are at their core. Julia, who has a dark past, is a fiercely protective mother who will do whatever it takes to keep her daughter safe. And though Ren is an assassin, Chavez writes her in such a way that the reader can't help but respect her, empathize with her, and even root for her at times. I LOVED the way the author made Ren a bit of goodie-goodie; such a fun juxtaposition to her career choice.
This book was perfectly paced, and unputdownable from beginning to end. The plot is so smart, so well thought out, and brilliantly executed. I will be recommending this one all summer long! What a great thriller!
Editing to add: I read my print copy along with the audiobook and the audiobook narrator, Megan Tusing, was fantastic! I never got the characters confused as she had very different voices for each of them. She really captured the different characters and made this even more enjoyable. If you're an audiobook fan, this is the format I'd recommend!
June 28, 2023
My first five-star read of 2023 and it’s no surprise it comes from one of my favorite authors, Heather Chavez.
Heather became an auto-buy author after I read her fast-paced debut thriller, NO BAD DEED. I am ecstatic she’s coming out with her third thriller, BEFORE SHE FINDS ME, and I’m happy to report that it, too, is awesome!
If you love:
✅ morally grey characters
✅ unexpected twists
✅ intriguing secrets
✅ strong, complex female main characters (that you’ll be rooting for despite their differences)
✅ dual POVs
✅ books that keep you guessing
then you’ll love this book!
This novel continues to showcase Chavez's talent for creating strong, multifaceted female main characters, and the dual POVs adds an extra layer of interest.
The story kept me guessing until the very end forcing me to throw out all my theories, and the family dynamics woven throughout added depth to every character. I highly recommend this book to all thriller lovers!
Heather became an auto-buy author after I read her fast-paced debut thriller, NO BAD DEED. I am ecstatic she’s coming out with her third thriller, BEFORE SHE FINDS ME, and I’m happy to report that it, too, is awesome!
If you love:
✅ morally grey characters
✅ unexpected twists
✅ intriguing secrets
✅ strong, complex female main characters (that you’ll be rooting for despite their differences)
✅ dual POVs
✅ books that keep you guessing
then you’ll love this book!
This novel continues to showcase Chavez's talent for creating strong, multifaceted female main characters, and the dual POVs adds an extra layer of interest.
The story kept me guessing until the very end forcing me to throw out all my theories, and the family dynamics woven throughout added depth to every character. I highly recommend this book to all thriller lovers!
July 4, 2023
This is my first read and audiobook from the author. It's good. I like both views, the good guys and the bad. The bad guys are doing the killing for a reason they deemed good so they don't think that they are the monster. They talked about the ones they are hired to kill as the monsters.. because those people abuse their wife and kids. There were some twists and secrets I couldn't guess. The killer's trophy is different and I haven't heard that choice before.
This book followed Julia. She was waiting around the college campus with her daughter Cora to say goodbye to her as she's about to move in to the college dorms. Soon Cora's father showed up with his new wife. Julia didn't like the crowd. Cora's step mom wanted to get away for coffee and Cora's dad was unhappy by it. Through the commotion, gunshots rang out. Among the family, one person died and the rest survived. Later, through following the view of the killer, readers will learn that the one that died was intended but was mistaken as the target.
Later some deaths occurred but one death, I would rather later than at the chosen time so that the person would know the truth of the person he married.
Thank you Novelsuspects and Mulhollandbooks for the opportunity to read and review!
This book followed Julia. She was waiting around the college campus with her daughter Cora to say goodbye to her as she's about to move in to the college dorms. Soon Cora's father showed up with his new wife. Julia didn't like the crowd. Cora's step mom wanted to get away for coffee and Cora's dad was unhappy by it. Through the commotion, gunshots rang out. Among the family, one person died and the rest survived. Later, through following the view of the killer, readers will learn that the one that died was intended but was mistaken as the target.
Later some deaths occurred but one death, I would rather later than at the chosen time so that the person would know the truth of the person he married.
Thank you Novelsuspects and Mulhollandbooks for the opportunity to read and review!
June 19, 2023
4.5 assassin stars
Ren and Nolan are a husband/wife assassin team. Ren is the planner and has all the details of the jobs mapped out down to the smallest detail. When Nolan completes a job that Ren didn’t know about and makes mistakes, Ren is puzzled and worried.
The other woman in this one is Julia. She’s dropping her daughter Cora off for her first day of college when a tragic attack happens. Julia’s quick thinking keeps Cora safe, but a few others aren’t so lucky.
As both women work to discover the truth, we learn more about them and a crazy cat-and-mouse chase begins.
I quite enjoyed this one. As a surprise book in the mail, I hadn’t read this author before. I would read her books in the future and I’m excited to find a new author.
This one made for an excellent buddy read with Jayme and Susan, be sure to see if they enjoyed this one too.
My thanks to Mulholland Books for the opportunity to read and honestly review this one. Scheduled to publish June 27, 2023.
Ren and Nolan are a husband/wife assassin team. Ren is the planner and has all the details of the jobs mapped out down to the smallest detail. When Nolan completes a job that Ren didn’t know about and makes mistakes, Ren is puzzled and worried.
The other woman in this one is Julia. She’s dropping her daughter Cora off for her first day of college when a tragic attack happens. Julia’s quick thinking keeps Cora safe, but a few others aren’t so lucky.
As both women work to discover the truth, we learn more about them and a crazy cat-and-mouse chase begins.
I quite enjoyed this one. As a surprise book in the mail, I hadn’t read this author before. I would read her books in the future and I’m excited to find a new author.
This one made for an excellent buddy read with Jayme and Susan, be sure to see if they enjoyed this one too.
My thanks to Mulholland Books for the opportunity to read and honestly review this one. Scheduled to publish June 27, 2023.
June 8, 2023
Can you believe that BEFORE SHE FINDS ME is my first read by author Heather Chavez?! I know, I'm always the last to board the hype train! I'm so happy I finally boarded as her new book is SO MUCH FUN! Part mystery and part slow-burn suspense, BEFORE SHE FINDS ME is a race-to-the-clock action thriller that unites two women to uncover the truth behind a school shooting and the motives behind it.
As I just mentioned so take note, TRIGGER WARNING. One of the protagonists, Julia Bennett is taking her daughter Cora to college and on move-in day, she reunites with her ex-husband and his new wife, but after a school shooting leaves the campus stunned, Julia starts to wonder if this attack was actually random. At the same time, Ren Petrovic realizes that her husband Nolan was at the school during the shooting. Ren and Nolan are trained assassins and she wasn't told about the shooting in advance. Who hired Nolan for this job and why did this Julia woman handle the shooting so differently than the others on campus? Julia and Ren begin a journey spanning locations, organizations, and the dark web.
As a reader, you can see the research Heather Chavez provided for this story immensely. I was immersed in Julia's journey for discovery and the underground world she embarks on while reading this book. Make sure to take your time with this book as it is a bit slower than you may expect for a thriller, but the evolution of what happens will surely be one for surprise. I don't know why I waited this long to read something by Heather Chavez, but I know my journey with her books has just begun.
As I just mentioned so take note, TRIGGER WARNING. One of the protagonists, Julia Bennett is taking her daughter Cora to college and on move-in day, she reunites with her ex-husband and his new wife, but after a school shooting leaves the campus stunned, Julia starts to wonder if this attack was actually random. At the same time, Ren Petrovic realizes that her husband Nolan was at the school during the shooting. Ren and Nolan are trained assassins and she wasn't told about the shooting in advance. Who hired Nolan for this job and why did this Julia woman handle the shooting so differently than the others on campus? Julia and Ren begin a journey spanning locations, organizations, and the dark web.
As a reader, you can see the research Heather Chavez provided for this story immensely. I was immersed in Julia's journey for discovery and the underground world she embarks on while reading this book. Make sure to take your time with this book as it is a bit slower than you may expect for a thriller, but the evolution of what happens will surely be one for surprise. I don't know why I waited this long to read something by Heather Chavez, but I know my journey with her books has just begun.
February 8, 2024
Such a cool book. I love women.
February 17, 2023
This latest book by Heather Chavez is mind blowing and action packed. It starts with kids moving into college and a horrific shooting takes place. Is it random? Is it a sniper from afar? We follow these people throughout and I wasn’t sure what was going to happen next. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. I’m still thinking about this one …
July 4, 2023
This is my first by Heather Chavez, and I am nothing short of impressed. Talk about pulse pounding, keep you on the edge of your seat plot lines. I think I might have been holding my breathe during large portions of this novel, particularly the beginning which starts with a huge bang (literally). Assassin type characters are usually not my vibe, (see my review of What Have We done?) but the depth of character in our co-MC created much more of an emotional connection for me. And of course, at the heart, the story of motherhood and what we would do for our children was incredibly easy to identify with.
I think this would make a great bookclub pick as there is a lot of nuance in the different relationships at the forefront, and it is fun to dissect each of the characters and their inner workings, especially in regards to others.
𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞:
∙strong MCs
∙assassins
∙dual timelines
∙family drama
∙edge of your seat reads
Thank you {partners} Novel Suspects, Mulholland Books and Libro.fm for my gifted copies.
I think this would make a great bookclub pick as there is a lot of nuance in the different relationships at the forefront, and it is fun to dissect each of the characters and their inner workings, especially in regards to others.
𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞:
∙strong MCs
∙assassins
∙dual timelines
∙family drama
∙edge of your seat reads
Thank you {partners} Novel Suspects, Mulholland Books and Libro.fm for my gifted copies.
October 12, 2022
After a shooting at a college campus leaves her daughter injured and her ex-husband’s new wife dead, Julie Bennett begins a frantic search to uncover the truth and protect her family. But the shooter’s wife, a contract killer herself and expectant mother, needs to cover their tracks. Perfect plotting and propulsive action with a cast of complex female characters make Before She Finds Me irresistible!
June 20, 2023
With breathless pacing and complex female leads, Before She Finds Me is a page-turning and action-packed thriller that asks the question, how far would you go to protect your family? Chavez is at the top of her game!
April 12, 2023
3.5⭐️
I had mixed feelings on this book. It starts off really fast and I was instantly drawn in to the plot. As things progress though the pacing became a bit off for me, with a lot of flashbacks and some repetitive wording. Ren’s chapters in particular in the first half of the book felt more like filler content, with a lot of reminders that she is pregnant and many cuticle references. The second half felt more balanced, but definitely requires you to suspend belief. I unfortunately was able to predict about 95% of the plot and was only off on one small detail, but I’ve seen countless reviews mentioning the surprise twists so maybe I’m just really good at predicting them 😂
I’d still recommend this one if you can suspend belief, it was a fun and fast read with characters you will love to hate and others you’ll be surprised to find yourself rooting for!
Thanks to @novelsuspects for the gifted ARC!
I had mixed feelings on this book. It starts off really fast and I was instantly drawn in to the plot. As things progress though the pacing became a bit off for me, with a lot of flashbacks and some repetitive wording. Ren’s chapters in particular in the first half of the book felt more like filler content, with a lot of reminders that she is pregnant and many cuticle references. The second half felt more balanced, but definitely requires you to suspend belief. I unfortunately was able to predict about 95% of the plot and was only off on one small detail, but I’ve seen countless reviews mentioning the surprise twists so maybe I’m just really good at predicting them 😂
I’d still recommend this one if you can suspend belief, it was a fun and fast read with characters you will love to hate and others you’ll be surprised to find yourself rooting for!
Thanks to @novelsuspects for the gifted ARC!
July 20, 2023
What brilliant thriller! I couldn’t put it down. It’s an intricately woven, fast paced suspense, full of secrets, twists and turns, murder and mayhem. In a nut shell it’s about a married couple who are both hired assassins. They share a strict moral code justifying their killings … or so they think.
Utterly compelling 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Utterly compelling 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 27, 2023
Professional assassins… sign me up! Meet husband and wife team of killers for hire. But they will only kill those that deserve it. Ren has just discovered that she is pregnant is following in her father’s footsteps. Her specialty is poisons. She is married to Nolan, a marksman. But things between them haven’t been great for a while. Maybe the baby will change all that. But then Nolan takes on a last minute job, without Ren and without proper research and planning. Ren is not happy, especially when things go wrong and she needs to clean up the mess.
This book was so hard to stop listening to. The narrator, Megan Tusing was new to me but I thought she did a brilliant job. I was hooked, and really could not see how it was going to end. It was a crazy conclusion and worked so well.
Thanks to Libro.FM and Hachette Audio for my free ALC of this book. Highly recommended.
This book was so hard to stop listening to. The narrator, Megan Tusing was new to me but I thought she did a brilliant job. I was hooked, and really could not see how it was going to end. It was a crazy conclusion and worked so well.
Thanks to Libro.FM and Hachette Audio for my free ALC of this book. Highly recommended.
February 13, 2023
...𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒏���� 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒖𝒇𝒇𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒕 𝒐𝒏 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒆. 𝑷𝒂𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒊𝒏 𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒕'𝒔 𝒗𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆. 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒈𝒏𝒊𝒛𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝒐𝒇 𝒂 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒕 𝒖𝒏𝒃𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝒑𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒍 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒅.
After her first book, I knew I had found an auto-buy author who would forever have a place on my shelves, and with this third offering, the big screen will soon be calling.
Told in alternating points of view from two mothers, BEFORE SHE FINDS ME is an engrossing tale of loyalty, family, and redemption. For Julia Bennett, going with her daughter Cora to move-in day at her college is bittersweet, but this milestone is tarnished by the presence of her ex-husband Eric and his new wife Brie. However, the day ends in tragedy...a random shooting kills Brie and injures Cora.
For Ren Petrovic, hired assassin and newly pregnant, she only accepts targets who adhere to her strict moral code. She knows her husband Nolan was on campus the day of the shooting, but she doesn't know why he didn't tell her. As the lives of Julia and Ren intersect, everything these two women thought they knew about family, loyalty, and survival will be tested.
Deftly plotted with flawed, deeply realistic characters, BEFORE SHE FINDS ME will live in my head for quite some time. It takes both a skilled writer and someone adept at understanding human behavior to create characters such as these two women. Many thanks to Mulholland Books for my gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review. This thriller will publish June 27, 2023.
After her first book, I knew I had found an auto-buy author who would forever have a place on my shelves, and with this third offering, the big screen will soon be calling.
Told in alternating points of view from two mothers, BEFORE SHE FINDS ME is an engrossing tale of loyalty, family, and redemption. For Julia Bennett, going with her daughter Cora to move-in day at her college is bittersweet, but this milestone is tarnished by the presence of her ex-husband Eric and his new wife Brie. However, the day ends in tragedy...a random shooting kills Brie and injures Cora.
For Ren Petrovic, hired assassin and newly pregnant, she only accepts targets who adhere to her strict moral code. She knows her husband Nolan was on campus the day of the shooting, but she doesn't know why he didn't tell her. As the lives of Julia and Ren intersect, everything these two women thought they knew about family, loyalty, and survival will be tested.
Deftly plotted with flawed, deeply realistic characters, BEFORE SHE FINDS ME will live in my head for quite some time. It takes both a skilled writer and someone adept at understanding human behavior to create characters such as these two women. Many thanks to Mulholland Books for my gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review. This thriller will publish June 27, 2023.
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September 11, 2023I’m quitting at 35%.
At this stage I should have felt some sort of thrill.
Perhaps it is not the right time for me to read this book.
I may give it another try (or not).
No ratings, as it would be unfair.
At this stage I should have felt some sort of thrill.
Perhaps it is not the right time for me to read this book.
I may give it another try (or not).
No ratings, as it would be unfair.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 585 reviews