I’m beginning to look forward to B.A. Paris’ new release each summer! Her debut, Behind Close Doors, remains my favorite, but Bring Me Back is an entertaining thrill ride!
My Thoughts:
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
4 entertaining stars to Bring Me Back! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
First of all, Paris knows how to hook me early on. Finn and Layla are on vacation, and while they are driving along a deserted highway, Finn stops to use the restroom at a gas station. When he returns to his car, Layla has disappeared. Or, so Finn tells the police…
Fast forward ten years, and Finn is now engaged to, of all people, Layla’s sister, Ellen. They bonded over their shared loss of Layla. That said, Finn does not fully trust Ellen. His intuition says something is not right.
Just before Finn and Ellen are to wed, someone has spotted Layla, and other unusual events happen, such as items of Layla’s showing up, along with strange emails. If Layla is alive, what is her m.o.?
I have always been mesmerized by Russian nesting dolls, and now they creep me out, thanks to this book! I felt tension from the first paragraph of Bring Me Back, and it built and built. The plotting outshines the characters, and while I would have liked more depth to them, I was hooked into the plot! The pacing was excellent, and I flew through this book. I also have to mention Peggy, the dog, because she almost steals the show!
Overall, I found Bring Me Back to be on the dramatic side of psychological suspense, but I did not mind the drama at all. From beginning to end, I was invested, shocked, and fully entertained!
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the physical ARC. Bring Me Back is available now!
Synopsis:
Finn and Layla are young, in love, and on vacation. They’re driving along the highway when Finn decides to stop at a service station to use the restroom. He hops out of the car, locks the doors behind him, and goes inside. When he returns Layla is gone—never to be seen again. That is the story Finn told to the police. But it is not the whole story.
Ten years later Finn is engaged to Layla’s sister, Ellen. Their shared grief over what happened to Layla drew them close and now they intend to remain together. Still, there’s something about Ellen that Finn has never fully understood. His heart wants to believe that she is the one for him…even though a sixth sense tells him not to trust her.
Then, not long before he and Ellen are to be married, Finn gets a phone call. Someone from his past has seen Layla—hiding in plain sight. There are other odd occurrences: Long-lost items from Layla’s past that keep turning up around Finn and Ellen’s house. Emails from strangers who seem to know too much. Secret messages, clues, warnings. If Layla is alive—and on Finn’s trail—what does she want? And how much does she know?
A tour de force of psychological suspense, Bring Me Back will have you questioning everything and everyone until its stunning climax.
I wished I would have liked this one as much as you did Jennifer. 😔
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Aw, I wish you did, too, Laurie! 💕
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Fabulous review Jennifer! I’m reading this now with Brenda. Enjoying it so far! Behind Closed Doors is my favourite of her other two as well. 😊💗
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Thanks, Lindsay! I thought I was the only one who hadn’t read it- I wish I had read it with you two! I hope it stays consistent for you! ♥️
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Although this one was not for me I am so glad you enjoyed it, Jennifer.
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Thanks, Marialyce!
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Another gorgeous photo and lovely review, Jennifer!!! 💕
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Thanks, Mack! I appreciate that! ♥️
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This looks great Jennifer! I will have to check out Behind Closed Doors! 😊
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Lana, I think that is the perfect place to start! I still remember how compulsively I read that one and it’s been a couple years ago!
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Ryan is dropping my watch off at the Apple Store right now! Thanks for the great tip!!👍🏻🤞🏻😁
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Yay! Let me know how it goes, and you’re welcome!
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Awesome review Jen!😊 Another author I’ve never read!😊💖
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Thanks, Sus! B.A. Paris has become a flagship summer psychological suspense author for St. Martin’s! I hope you’ve had a great Wednesday and are staying cool! 💗
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St Martin’s has the best books don’t they? I’m so grateful they finally realized they love me and stopped declining me!😂😂😂💖💖
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They have so many great books – too many to choose from! I’m glad they know how special you are! 💗 ♥️
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I’m looking forward to this one. Enjoyed Behind Closed Doors.
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Jonetta, I can’t wait to see what you think of it, and I hope you enjoy! Behind Closed Doors was so good!
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Awesome review Jennifer! I wasn’t quite as impressed with this one as you were but her great writing style stilled showed through with me flying right through it regardless. Loved her first two though and will still be waiting for the next. 🙂
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Thanks, Carrie! She definitely knows how to keep us flipping the pages! I hope we love her next one!
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So glad you liked this one too – I couldn’t put it down!
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I love being in good company with you, and I loved seeing all your stars for this one! ♥️
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Great review ❤ Jennifer
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Thanks, Priyasha! I see your post! 💗
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Wonderful review! I love Paris and Behind Closed Doors is my favorite. I didn’t love this one as much as you did since I figured out “where and who” Lyla was almost immediately, but I enjoy Paris’s writing style so much that the book still hooked me. I can’t wait to see what she writes next!
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Thanks, Steph! Behind Close Doors had such incredible tension, and my heart ached for Milly. I think her character really made that one for me. I’m also excited for her next one!
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You’re welcome! It certainly did. The tension was palpable from beginning to end. Yes, Milly was a fantastic character.
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Great review Jennifer. I didn’t enjoy this as much especially because of the final twist. However, I really liked the part played by the Russian dolls and they did creep me out too.
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Thanks, Diana! Those Russian dolls were something else!
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Glad you liked it. I think the dramatic unrealistic ending ruined it a little for me but it was still enjoyable!
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Thanks, Shahna! I’m glad you found it enjoyable too!
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I really enjoyed Behind Closed Doors and I’m still going to try this one despite the mixed reviews I’ve seen. I’m glad you enjoyed it and happy to see your rating! 🧡❤🧡😚
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Oh good, M! Try to go in with an open mind and be ready to be entertained because it is definitely entertaining! ♥️ 😘
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So happy you loved this after all the mediocre reviews I read! Great review Jenn ;D
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Thanks, Annie! It’s definitely one that requires suspension of disbelief, but I don’t mind that!
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Great review Jen! I really need to catch up on B.A. Paris ‘ books now! 🤔🤗
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Thanks, Beth! They are a bit like thriller candy! 🍭
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I’m so happy to hear that this is another good one by B.A Paris!! When I had to read “behind closed doors” for my book club all I could think was “oh great, another girl on a train kind of thriller!” 😕 I was so pleasantly surprised! That one creeped me out because (to a point) it’s something that could actually happen! I’ll have to check this one out as well! Great review. 💖💖
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Thanks, Nicole! This one requires a little more suspension of disbelief that Behind Closed Doors, but wow, did that one ever have tension! I also think Milly as a character really drew me in! I hope you enjoy this one if you end up reading it! 💗
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