Review: Spouse Trap by Cynthia Hamilton

Posted June 27, 2015 by RobbieLea in Book Reviews / 0 Comments

Review: Spouse Trap by Cynthia HamiltonSpouse Trap by Cynthia Hamilton
Series: A Madeline Dawkins Novel
Published by Woodstock Press on December 18th 2014
Genres: Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
Pages: 302
Format: eBook
ISBN: 978-0977627844
ASIN: B00BDB63AQ
Goodreads
four-stars

Madeline Ridley had all she'd ever dreamed of: a handsome, successful husband, a place at the top of Santa Barbara society, every luxury money could buy. In all respects, her world was perfect...until she awoke in the early morning hours in a strange hotel room, alone, unclothed, with a splitting headache and no clue how she had gotten there. When Steven Ridley comes home in the middle of a weekday and throws a sheaf of damning photos at her, Madeline's comfortable world collapses in a swirl of blackmail, sabotage and deceit. Hoping to convince Steven of her innocence, Madeline drives to his office and unwittingly stumbles onto a scene that makes her realize who the real enemy is. From that point on, Madeline Ridley deconstructs herself, reverting back to Madeline Dawkins in order to salvage what's left of her life. In the process, she discovers where her true strengths lay, and with those, she steels herself for the battle of a lifetime. Spouse Trap is the first installment in the Madeline Dawkins series.

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Robbie-300x50

When Lover Michelle messaged me that she thought this book had my name all over it, she was so right! Spouse Trap is my first book by Cynthia Hamilton and I’m sure it won’t be my last.  I do love a good mystery and this book is definitely a good mystery.  Can you imagine anything more terrifying than awakening in a strange hotel room with no knowledge of how you got there?  But even more terrifying is coming to realize that the whole thing was a set-up perpetrated by your husband, a man with whom you’ve lived an almost fairy tale existence.  I have to say I was sucked in immediately by this opening. As Madeline Ridley’s world unravels she finds herself in the position of being guilty until she proves herself innocent.  And the cost, if she doesn’t prove herself innocent, will be everything! What was once a safe and predictable life is now populated with people who have become veritable strangers.

She felt as though she were in a strange movie where odd characters kept popping out of the shadows, saying things that made absolutely no sense.

I think readers will love Madeline’s character. She goes from being a pampered socialite to a woman who must call upon all her cleverness and inner strength to stay one step ahead of a man who plummets from being her world to an evil person who is determined to destroy her.  Readers will love to hate Madeline’s husband Steven and will love to love her old friend Mike and her dogged detective Burt. In the course of trying to regain her life, Madeline proves herself courageous and resourceful even though she must continually overcome moments of self-pity and down right terror.  She is able to win over her old friend Mike, her faithful detective and an attorney who believes in her to assist her with what, at times, seems to be not just a hopeless cause, but a dangerous cause laced with tragedy. Although there is never any doubt who the bad guys are and what they are up to, I think readers will question whether Madeline can get herself out of this mess and hang on to some semblance of a decent life.  As we read, we not only get to take Madeline’s journey as she rescues herself from her husband’s treachery, but we get to see her morph into Madeline Dawkins, the strong and likable character who will be the focus of a new series, so hang on to your seats and prepare for the ride!

four-stars

About Cynthia Hamilton

The author, a proud grandmother of three, lives in Santa Barbara, CA. Her favorite pastimes are reading, writing, walking on the beach and spending time with family and friends.

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