THE PERSONAL ASSISTANT by Kimberly Belle

 

MY THOUGHTS

I'm a big fan of Kimberly Belle's books. They always leave me on the edge and wanting more. This is her latest and I think each gets better. 

An Instagram Influencer can be a dangerous thing. At least to this family. Alex and her husband Patrick a financial genius, along with her twelve year old twinsPenelope and Gigi from a previous relationship. There is also Alex's personal assistant AC.. The night Alex's audience reaches a million followers her world is turned upside down. Not in a good way. It's the beginning of the biggest nightmare of her life. 

Alex met Patrick outside of a restaurant waiting in line for the valet. It was raining and cold. He let her ahead of him and they just seemed to hit it off. They started dating and eventually married. He is her twins stepdad and loves them as if they are his own. They love him also. Ales and Patrick seem to be the perfect couple. But both do have secrets. Secrets that could cause big trouble. At least from one's previous life. 

You meet AC along the way also. She is hired to be Alex's personal assistant and has big secrets of her own. Reasons for being where she is. AC is hiding something and so is Patrick. On the night that Alex reaches one million followers they have a big celebration. Drinking. Alex awakens the next morning with a huge problem and no AC to be found anywhere. 

You get to know these three people as each tells their backstory. Or the way it was before they met and in some cases after meeting but after the big blow up. And it's big. Someone posted a horrible thing on Alex's Instagram and it's blowing up with responses, comments, threats and more. Alex does not believe she posted it and since AC is missing thinks maybe she did it. Patrick has a big secret and Alex wants to know what it is. You got from the now to the before. Before Patrick meets Alex. To before AC meets Alex. AC's story is mainly about her life before. When she's working as a maid in a low class sleepy hotel. Her life after falling in love with a rich man. 

These three do have many secrets. Many things going on in their lives that cause each other great heartache and pain. Almost costs them their lives many times. Possibly will cost a life or two along the way. 

This book is truly edge of your seat thrills. Ups and downs and through Georgia and Florida. From the lives that they choose and the lives left behind. You'll read a bit about a gruesome murder and think you have that figured out. You won't. This story is about normal people and what could be mob people. Angry influence followers. Some pretty gritty things posted on the internet that cause Alex's daughters lots of stress. 

They little girls are innocent. They don't deserve any of what happened. But do any of them really? I had mixed feelings about Patrick and AC. I also did a bit for Alex. Patrick maybe should have done a few things different but then he would not have been the caring man that they loved. AC on the other hand... I really felt so bad for her. For the real AC and what she went through. It was not good. I do not think she or anyone deserves that. But without it this book would not be the great read it is.

Thank you #NetGalley, #KimberelyBelle, #HarlequinTrade, #ParkRow for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

Five huge stars and I highly recommend it. 

SYNOPSIS

USA TODAY bestselling author Kimberly Belle returns with a deeply addictive thriller exploring the dark side of the digital world when a mommy-blogger’s assistant goes missing.  

When Alex first began posting unscripted family moments and motivational messages online, she had no intention of becoming an influencer. Overnight it seemed she’d amassed a huge following, and her hobby became a full-time job—one that was impossible to manage without her sharp-as-a-tack personal assistant, AC.

But all the good-will of her followers turns toxic when one controversial post goes viral in the worst possible way. Alex reaches out to AC for damage control, but her assistant has gone silent. This young woman Alex trusted with all her secrets, who had access to her personal information and front row seats to the pressure points in her marriage and family life, is now missing and the police are looking to Alex and her husband for answers. As Alex digs into AC’s identity – and a woman is found murdered – she’ll find the greatest threat isn’t online, but in her own living room.

Written in alternating perspectives between Alex, her husband, and the mysterious AC, this juicy cat and mouse story will keep you guessing till the very end.