This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration.

Little Black Lies

Dr. Zoe Goldman is a resident in training at the local psychiatric ward. Helping people is something that gives her joy- and she feels that she is good at her job. Even though she definitely picks up on the fact that one her supervisors is not always her biggest fan.

When Zoe meets Sophia Vallano- her newest patient- she has a dislike to the girl. But she puts on a professional face and deals with Sophia as best she can. Although when talk begins to happen about releasing Sophia- Zoe is reluctant to think this is the best course of action.

Considering the fact that Sophia killed her mother and now Zoe is dreaming about the fire that killed her biological mother and her adoptive mother has dementia- it’s no wonder that Zoe has lot on her mind. Add to that her relationship/dating problems- Zoe is just trying to handle things.

Maybe it’s because of the dreams, maybe it’s because her adoptive mother has dementia- but Zoe now has a desire to find out more about her bio mother. She presses her adoptive mother for details and when that proves to not be as successful as she’d like- she asks her therapist to use hypnosis to help her decipher her dream.

Zoe begins to find out, though, that some secrets are best kept in the past. And that some lies are told with the best intentions at the heart of them.

 

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

So…. When Liz @ Wunderkind PR offered me this book, I was pretty excited. Always having enjoyed a mystery/suspense type novel- this one had those markings, plus the psychological aspects was intriguing to me. And, ok, the cover- hello the cover! It was like Zoe was whispering “Come find out all the secrets, T!”

I started reading and it was interesting. I was getting to know Zoe and the cast of characters- and while I didn’t care for everyone (I’m looking directly at you Jean Luc) I was ok. I understood Zoe’s desire to find out what her dreams meant- even though when she under hypnosis, I thought I was going to scream my head off.

And yet- while I did enjoy this book (and no, I did not guess the ending) I was still not 100% “you gotta read this fab book”. Maybe it was because there were some aspects that I felt did not need as much space given as they were (again Jean Luc, even Eddie- he was mentioned so many times, my Spidey sense was tingling about him!)

The good: I thought this was fairly well plotted out (especially for a debut novel). The idea definitely had merit!

The bad-ish: Sandra Block does mention things a few too many times (Zoe’s ADHD) and some of Zoe’s relationship woes was dragged on a touch too long.

Overall: I was definitely pleased with this book. It had way more good and the things that were bad-ish were just personal feelings/thoughts to me. I finished the book and felt satisfied- maybe not “Whoa, BEST ending ever” but def fulfilled and pretty happy. I would def say to give this book a try- and I would absolutely check out future work of Sandra’s because I think she might be an author to watch when you desire something in the mystery/suspense/psych thriller line.

 

*This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration by WunderkindPR. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

 

Happy Reading and Bookishly Yours,

T @ Traveling With T