Review - Desperate by Daniel Palmer

Book Summary from Amazon

Gage Dekker still blames himself for the car accident that claimed the lives of his first wife and young son. Then he meets Anna, who understands grief all too well. Within a year, Gage and Anna are married, his career is thriving, and both feel ready to become parents once more.

After a heartbreaking miscarriage, they begin the long adoption process, until fate brings Lily into their lives. Young, pregnant, and homeless, Lily agrees to give her baby to Gage and Anna in exchange for financial support. It's the perfect arrangement for everyone. Seeing his wife's happiness and optimism for their new life and child, Gage begins to feel a sense of hope he thought he'd lost forever.

But something isn't right once Lily enters their lives. At work and at home, Gage is being sabotaged, first in subtle ways, then things take a more sinister turn. Every attempt he makes to uncover the truth only drives a wedge between him and Anna. Even as he's propelled toward an unthinkable choice to save his marriage and his job, Gage discovers that the most chilling revelations are still to come. . .

Published - April 2014

My Review - 2

I received this review request and pushed my way through it.  I have always said torturing yourself through a book is not worth it but I feel I have to complete review requests.  This was more family drama then a thriller, but it was sold as a Domestic Thriller. If you enjoy con artists stories it may be worth a try.  The writing was not the problem other than to much detail at times, but that is a detail and style I don't enjoy.  The book overall was unbelievable to me, the whole story.  I would have gave up initially at approx 25%.  Once I got 50% I skimmed the rest, reading all dialogue right until the end, I was desperate to finish after giving this book 2 weeks of my life.

I cannot believe someone loves anyone enough to be completely naive and dumb. I wasn't a Gone Girl fan either, maybe fans of that one will enjoy this.  Gage and Anna who are married and decide to adopt directly, they find Lily and start the process, which was the beginning of the end.  

I am going to accept some of the story line due to Gage grieving his loss of wife and child and using prescription drugs to live life, unknown to his new wife.  I was unable to suspend belief enough to enjoy this book.  I am shocked with the amazon 5 stars for this book, thrilling...... not at all.  If you try it and are enjoying the story you will enjoy how it comes together at the end.  

I appreciate all review requests and would like to thank Kaye Publicity, Inc.

What do you find harder - Not finishing a review requests or not enjoying them and having to give an honest review?

Both are hard for me.  Not finishing, I feel like I let the author and publisher down without real feedback.  Not enjoying them is the torture part for me.  I try to give honest feedback without being cruel and in this case he has already received many 5 stars.