The Missing Bridesmaid (Broken Vows #2) by LG Davis
Genre: Domestic thriller, Psychological thriller
Read: 9th July 2024
Published: 13th June 2024
★★★★ 4 stars
DESCRIPTION:
I’m getting married tomorrow. But someone has taken my daughter…
I first start worrying about my beautiful daughter Lennie when she claims her imaginary friend told her not to trust me or her father, Nathan. And as she retreats further into her own world and pushes us away, it feels like we are losing our little girl. Then one evening I see a shadowy figure in Lennie’s bedroom window, and I begin to worry her friend isn’t imaginary at all…
Nathan insists it’s all in my head, but now my worst nightmare has come true. Lennie has been kidnapped just before our rehearsal dinner, in her adorable bridesmaid’s dress. And I think I know who did it…
Years ago, I brought another woman’s perfect life crashing down around her. I was trying to protect someone I loved, but I had no idea how out of control it would get, or how deadly. Has she come back to punish me? And how far will she go for revenge?
But when I see a message on Nathan’s phone asking about Lennie, I realise I might have got it all wrong. Was my daughter taken by someone close to home, someone I thought I could trust?
An utterly heart-pounding and nail-biting new novel from bestseller L.G. Davis. This twisty, gasp-out-loud thriller is perfect for fans of Gone Girl, Teresa Driscoll and Freida McFadden.
MY THOUGHTS:
Revenge is a dish best serve cold...
Firstly, I would recommend reading book one first - "The Woman at my Wedding" - as it really sets the backstory for this one, though each one is a standalone in its own right. It takes place seven years after the first one and is just as fast paced and twisted.
We reunite with Hannah and Nathan as they plan their upcoming wedding, with a real sense of deja vu. The difference being Lennie who has a huge imagination and often loses herself to her own little world and land of make believe. She even has a voice as she provides her own narrative in her own chapters as we see the world through Lennie's eyes. I must admit, her perspective sometimes seems a little advanced for a 6 year old but then it's been a long time since I was that age so it is hard to remember.
Lennie introduces us to her own imaginary friend who she calls Whisper and together they embark on many magical adventures together. Beginning off as imaginary, Whisper soon becomes real visible only to Lennie and if you have read book one you will have a pretty good idea who Whisper really is! She knows everything about Lennie and is the only friend the little girl feels she can trust as things begin to erupt at home.
But before long, Hannah and Nathan begin to ponder the wisdom of allowing this imaginary friend when things begin to go awry. Of course it doesn't help that Nathan has begun to grow distant from both Hannah and Lennie, snapping at them both for the slightest thing and bringing fear to their door. Soon the wedding they have waited so long for seems far beyond their reach as Hannah ponders whether marrying Nathan is really in the best interests of her daughter. While Lennie spends most of her time escaping to her treehouse into the comforting arms of her guardian angel Whisper.
I thoroughly enjoyed this sequel book with the different aspect as told by Lennie, though her chapters were clearly written by an adult. Some of her phrases and words were just too advanced for a 6 year old I felt. Especially since it was apparent throughout that she couldn't pronounce "funeral". I had trouble pronouncing her version of it though...hahaha.
Not a lot of criticism bar the fact that Nathan's abusive behaviour came out of nowhere when he showed no signs of it in the first book. It's like he was a completely different character for the most part. Granted, he has just lost his father and is struggling with the grief he feels he shouldn't have given the place his father had in his life. But while he was the epitome of love and understanding in the first book, this one he became someone different.
Then there was Elena's psychiatrist husband. Elena suggests Hannah speak to him to help deal with her stress, then Hannah encourages Nathan to seek him also...then by the end they have Lennie having therapy with him! Don't get me wrong, Lennie was in dire need of therapy after everything, but a psychiatrist cannot treat any member of a patient's family (or anyone with a close relationship) - past or present - let alone the entire family! It is a clear conflict of interest. Added to that, Lennie will have needed a therapist (not a psychiatrist) with specific training in treating children.
My last criticism is the whole "missing bridesmaid" part. While it may be the title of the book, it is very misleading because it takes up only a one hundredth percent of the story. And it came out of nowhere! The reasoning behind her "abduction" (which I term rather loosely) is just absurd. And then in a matter of a few paragraphs, all is forgiven and its water under the bridge. I'm sorry...but that part of the story was completely redundant and made absolutely no sense whatsoever.
Take that last part out and it would be a five star read because it was everything I love in a thriller - fast paced, twisted, devious and entertaining.
Others have mentioned it being set up for a third book. I'm not sure. I think just leave it where it is. Anything else would just be white noise I think. It's perfect (aside from that last point) as it is.
Another stellar read from Liz Davis!!
I would like to thank #LGDavis, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheMissingBridesmaid in exchange for an honest review.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
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She now lives in Vienna, Austria, with her husband and two children.
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