Baby Doll

3.5 stars.<br />I FINALLY FINISHED A BOOK AFTER BEING IN THE WORST READING SLUMP EVER! Review on my channel coming soon!

I don’t know why I haven’t learned my lesson about reading books that claim to be the next <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/19288043.Gone_Girl" title="Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn" rel="noopener">Gone Girl</a> or <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/22557272.The_Girl_on_the_Train" title="The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins" rel="noopener">The Girl on the Train</a>. Why do I keep doing this to myself? I only end up disappointed.<br /><br />I have to wonder if the person that wrote the blurb for this book has even read either of those books. I would have to say not, because there is <u>no comparison</u>. Aside from the first few chapters, there is nothing surprising about this plot. There is <b>no shocking revelation or exceptional plot twist that makes this a standout</b>. Not in my eyes, at least.<br /><br />I totally get this is a work of fiction. That this scenario is not real. But as a reader there has to be some plausibility for me to enjoy the story. I didn’t walk away from this book thinking that anyone in Lily’s situation would act the way she did. After 8 years or 3,110 days of captivity, it would take more than a day before anyone could handle the nuances of real life or subjecting themselves to public scrutiny. She would have had years of trauma to overcome.<br /><br />What bothered me the most was how the author chose to tell the story. Rather than giving us first hand experience or letting us live through the eyes of the characters, we’re simply told about what happened secondhand. She chose to let us live through the boring, humdrum, everyday events instead. Things that didn’t really add much of anything to the story. It felt so surface. There was no depth to the characters or connection to the story for me. <br /><br />Aside from all that, it was the over-the-top quality of the story that ultimately cemented this as a two star read for me. The author flitted from one contrived event to the next. There was no character building or development of the story. For this reader, it was too much. It was overdone. <br /><br /><b>Take this for what it is - my opinion</b>. I was looking forward to reading this book, but it wasn’t one that worked for me. If you are expecting <i>Gone Girl</i> greatness, I would reconsider picking this one up. <br /><br /><i> <b>*ARC provided by Redhook Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*</b> </i>

*Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review*<br /><br />Oddly enough, this book begins AFTER the main event is over and done with - that event being Lily's abduction some eight years earlier. Although we don't have in-depth details of her time in captivity, we know that she has been both physically, and mentally abused during that time, and has also given birth to her daughter Sky, who was fathered by her captor.<br /><br />The opening chapter is where we first meet Lily and Sky. It begins with their escape from their basement hell - a windowless room with no contact with the outside world. To say this first chapter is heart pounding is an understatement. The disbelief that Lily has, that she might finally be free, and the stomach churning fear that her abductor will return to stop her is almost unbearable. But luck is on her side, and she and Sky make it back to her family home. But if you think it's all going to be moonlight and roses, and happy ever after, then think again. The aftermath is anything but smooth, with the whole family thrown into turmoil<br /><br />The storyline was very good, with lots of tension and a twist that I never saw coming till it hit me between the eyes! The only criticism I have, is that I couldn't really connect with any of the characters, I found them quite irritating. Were it not for that irritation, I would have rated it 5 stars.

<b>Find all my reviews on my blog at: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://thesuspenseisthrillingme.com">https://thesuspenseisthrillingme.com</a></b><br /><br />Date Read: 07/18/16<br />Pub Date: 07/12/16<br /><br />3 STARS<br /><br /><i>“For fans of Gone Girl and Girl on the Train, Baby Doll is the most tense thriller you will read this year.<br /><br />Held captive for eight years, Lily has grown from a teenager to an adult in a small basement prison. Her daughter Sky has been a captive her whole life. But one day their captor leaves the deadbolt unlocked.<br /><br />This is what happens next…<br /><br />…to her twin sister, to her mother, to her daughter…and to her captor.”</i><br /><br />Not a lot to go on right? Notice that little blurb at the top- <b>“For fans of Gone Girl and Girl on the Train…”. </b>Stop right there. This is an EXTREMELY unfair comparison as this book in no way was similar to those aforementioned. I think a good number of lukewarm to poor reviews of this book are due to the fact the reader felt duped into believing that they were picking up a book that was arresting with at least 1 or more major plot twists. Unfortunately, I was one of those readers, which made me feel a little guilty as I believe part of my reasoning behind a lower rating was due to feeling misled. If you want my personal opinion, this was more relatable to the novel <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/7937843.Room" title="Room by Emma Donoghue" rel="noopener">Room</a> by <a href="https://goodreads.com/author/show/23613.Emma_Donoghue" title="Emma Donoghue" rel="noopener">Emma Donoghue</a> than anything else (I loved that book by the way), if it had been written involving the aftermath of the kidnapping. To end my initial rant, if this book had been marketed to a different crowd, it would be receiving a higher overall rating, but that’s just my opinion.<br /><br />Another thing to note is that this book isn’t about Lily’s captivity, not really. After a glowing first few chapters that had me hooked, we are thrown into the aftermath and what life is like for herself and her family of everyday life. The ending did speed up a bit once again, but the middle was just a little meh. I thought there would be more thrilling action, but it was just domestic drama that seemed a bit trite compared to the premise of Lily being held captive for 8 years. While not going into the plot too deeply, Lily seemed a bit normal, like she hadn’t experienced daily, overwhelming trauma for almost a decade. I was expecting turmoil and struggles, but she seemed just fine.<br /><br />I know this sounds like nothing but a giant bash-this-book post, but I promise its not. Hollie Overton clearly is a talented writer, I just wasn’t the right reader for this book. My tastes are slightly different, so I was expecting this to be told and read from a completely different angle. This is a classic case of “I enjoyed reading this book, it just wasn’t one I’ll be remembering for years to come”. I can say with confidence that I would be interested in reading the author’s next book, as I feel she has tremendous potential and would love to watch her growth from book to book. I don’t give out 3 star ratings if I don’t enjoy the book, so please take this for what it is-simply my opinion.<br /><br /><b>*I’d like to thank the publisher for providing my copy in exchange for a fair and honest review. </b><br /><br />

<b> <u>Update: 10-23-16. Kindle book $2.99. Not sure for how long.</u> </b><br><br><br><b>***MILD SPOILERS***</b><br><br><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1464524849i/19247644._SX540_.jpg" alt=" : " class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br><b>---&gt;EXCERPT&lt;---</b><br><br><b>A dead bolt has a very specific sound. Lily was an expert at recognizing certain sounds--the creak of the floorboards signaling his arrival, the mice scurrying across the concrete in search for food. But Lily always braced herself for the sound of the dead bolt, listening as metal scraped against the metal. The lock as beginning to rust, so it always took him several tries. But inevitably, she would hear the click, the sound that meant they were trapped for another week, another month, another year. But tonight, she heard nothing. Only deafening silence. Hours passed, and she couldn't stop thinking about the lock.</b><br><br>Lily has was taken when she was sixteen by someone that was a prominent person in the community. His name is Rick. He kept her in the basement of his cabin in the woods for eight years. This is where she also gave birth to their child Sky from the multiple rapes from Rick. She suffered a lot of abuse in the little basement. But one time... just one time.. he forgets to latch the lock. <br><br><b>RUN RUN RUN.. FREE FREE FREE...</b><br><br>I was so nervous that Lily and Sky weren't going to make it. I thought it would be some sick joke. But it was a harsh reality when Lily realized how close to home she actually was and that's even scarier. <br><br>The book is told from multiply POVs. You have Lily, Rick (evil man), Eve (Lily's Mom) and Abby (Lily's twin sister.) They all have important parts to play in the book. <br><br>Abby has pined for her twin sister ever since she was taken. She kept telling people that Lily was still alive and she was right when Lily shows up on the doorstep with Sky. Abby has a very volatile temper. She's very protective of Lily and she does a very good job in my opinion. But there is one thing that Abby is afraid for Lily to know. She doesn't want to hurt her. I won't get into all of that, you can read the book. <br><br>As you can figure, the family goes through a lot of stuff. They have to face the trial with Rick and let me tell you... I did not see that coming. It was so wonderful and maybe I shouldn't say that but I felt that way. Sometimes people get what they deserve that the justice system just can't do for themselves. <br><br>At first I was torn between a three star or what because at first the book did sound similar to another book. But then the book took off in another direction and I really enjoyed it. Okay if I confess the part that turned me around was in the courtroom and what lovely feelings revenge can make you feel against someone that hurts women. There was a great happily ever after as well as their should be in this case. <br><br>*I would like to thank Netgalley and Redhook Books for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*<br><br>MY BLOG: <a href="http://melissa413readsalot.blogspot.com/2016/05/baby-doll-by-hollie-overton.html" rel="nofollow noopener">Melissa Martin's Reading List</a>

As the story opens Lily and her daughter Sky are being held captive in the basement of a cabin set deep in the woods.  Their captor has, for the first time in eight long years, neglected to lock the door.  Ever apprehensive that this may be just another, in a long list of tests that Rick, her captor, has set for her, Lily gathers up Sky and takes her first shaky step toward freedom.<br /><br />Soaked in fear and swimming in adrenaline, once Lily is able to get her bearings she realizes that she has been close to home all this time.  What unfolds then is Lily’s journey back to her former life.  Except we all know that is no longer possible.  Held captive for eight years and clutching her daughter, a product of that same captivity, Lily’s former life is forever gone.<br /><br />Lily has a twin sister, Abby and this story is as much about the bond between Lily and her sister as it is about Lily’s struggle to get home, or at least today’s closest proximity to home.  I confess that I have never really understood that twin thing, that bond you hear so much about, but I had a real struggle identifying with most of the actions and decisions employed by both Lily and Abby.   There were times when, especially early on, I questioned the plausibility of what happened.  <br /><br />Narrated by four perspectives: that of Eve (the twins mother), Lily, Abby and Lily’s abductor Rick, the reader is privy to what happened eight years ago, the impact it had on those left behind and what unfolds for each of these characters once Lily returns.  I really think the premise held huge promise, so much fertile soil to excavate that was sadly left untapped.  Oddly enough it was the four main characters that seemed so very shallow and not fully developed.  I found I could relate better to some of the other cast members like Wes, Lily’s one time suitor and Abby’s current lover.  Lily’s daughter Sky was another lost opportunity and even though she was most often there in the midst of things, her presence felt more like background décor. <br /><br />This has been sitting in my currently reading slot for some time now, but that is the result of how hectic life has been for me recently.  In truth I  read this in pretty short order, once I actually sat down to do so.  <br /><br />My thanks to Redhook Books, NetGalley and Hollie Overton for the chance to read this story.<br /><br />2.5 rudimentary stars!

Good idea, failed execution.<br /><br />The book felt like one of those Lifetime dramas, all overwrought and ridiculous. The multitude of voices felt rushed and superficial, not one character behaved in a realistic fashion, everyone seemed most concerned about their love lives, the whole thing was drawn out too long.<br /><br />If anything, it was rather pointless. The strapline said the escape being just the beginning. Yeah, it is. The he's arrested. Then another thing (spoiler-but not really because you can see it coming). The End. The bit in between is just people enacting family drama- fights between sisters, mother trying to get it on with the Sheriff, lots of banal internal dialogue.<br /><br />It might have worked if the people had been given more depth. Maybe.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Thanks in any case to Random House/Cornerstone and Netgalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Baby Doll had so much promise and I was really excited to start reading it. The synopsis made it sounds fabulous. I quickly felt that the book was not giving me the buzz factor that a book in this genre should.<br /><br />A young woman has been held captive, tortured, raped and beaten against her will by a man she should have been able to trust. Locked away for years one day she realises she can run for her freedom...and she does.<br /><br />The story then concentrates on how things are with her integrating back with her family including her twin sister and a lot has happened in the years she was hidden away. But she's alive and wants to bring her captor to justice.<br /><br />The execution was not great, there are a lot of long-winded pages and chapters where situations drag out unnecessarily. It slows the book down a lot. The start of the book is great, it's exciting and the end of the book has the thrills and twists also. Sadly the middle of the book was just very lukewarm with fairly forgettable moments.<br /><br /><b>I wanted more depth, rawness and human grief from the characters. There has been so much damage done but at times it's like it's brushed over too lightly in my opinion.</b><br /><br />I give Baby Doll 3 stars, great plot and if there was more pace, less wordiness and more shocks through the book this would have been facts drug! I still enjoyed reading it, I just won't be raving to anyone about it.<br /><br /><i>Thanks so much to the publisher for an ARC of this book to read and review.</i>

1.5 stars<br /><br />So this is how the book was described: <br /><b>For fans of Gone Girl and Girl on the Train, BABY DOLL is the most tense thriller you will read this year.</b><br /><br />Sounds like a winner, right?<br />WRONG!!<br /><br />This was not a thriller, let alone tense. It doesn't have any correlation to Gone Girl or Girl on The Train in any way shape or form.<br /><br />This is a the author's first book, and you can read the signs throughout. <br />Underdeveloped characters, sophomoric writing style, and pointless story lines just made this a mess for me to read. Example Eve: I'm not sure why she was given dedicated chapters and what her infidelity had to do with anything?<br /><br />The only chapters I looked forward to were those for Rick-the essential bad guy. But even those made me cringe at times at the absurdity of his thoughts and actions.<br /><br />This was almost a DNF, but I was curious to see if the ending would provide any better entertainment, and unfortunately it didn't.<br /><br />If you are looking for a good suspense novel, keep looking as this isn't it. This is more about relationships between family and lovers more than anything, and even that failed in my opinion.<br /><br />Moving on....<br /><br />ARC through NetGalley<br />

Lily has been held captive for eight years. She has been raped, beaten and mentally abused. She has a daughter, Sky, fathered by her abductor. Then one day to her astonishment, she finds the door unlocked. Still fearful, Lily and her daughter escape the ghastly basement in which they have been imprisoned. You might think that from this point that Lily's life would get so much better. Not so, there is further turmoil awaiting her.<br /><br />On returning to her family home, Lily finds things have changed quite dramatically. Lily's disappearance tore the family apart. Her father's pain was too much for him, her twin sister, Abby, is struggling to combat her addiction and her mother is a mess. The focus on what happens when Lily returns home is interesting, underlining just how much Lily was not the only victim. It is also fascinating to have a glimpse into the life of her abductor and how those in his family had no idea of what he was capable of. <br /><br />Whilst the premise of the book was compelling, the writing and plot felt uneven and the characterisation a little on the weak side. Nevertheless, overall I did enjoy aspects of the book. Thanks to Random House Cornerstone for an ARC.