This is a great mystery/suspense! Ive had it in my TBR pile for months now, and once I started reading it, I finished it in one setting. I loved the characters, including Juless deceased husband, Jason, a police officer killed in the line of duty. Though he is never alive in the story, Gutteridge does an ample job at developing his character through the memories and recollections of others.

This story is set in a small coastal town in Maine. It is a contemporary mystery/suspense novel, which is not my favorite genre, yet this is one of my favorite reads this year. I read over a hundred books per year, so counting it as a favorite is not something done lightly. I truly enjoyed the story and am fast becoming a Rene Gutteridge fan.

Rene Gutteridge in her new book, Misery Loves Company published by Tyndale House Publishers introduces us to Jules Belleno.

From the Back Cover: Dont tell me its terrifying. Terrify me.

Filled with grief, Jules Belleno rarely leaves the house since her husbands death while on duty as a police officer. Other than the reviews Jules writes on her blog, she has little contact with the outside world.

But one day when she ventures out to the local grocery store, Jules bumps into a fellow customer . . . and recognizes him as her favorite author, Patrick Reagan. Jules gushes and thoroughly embarrasses herself before Regan graciously talks with her.

And thats the last thing she remembersuntil she wakes up in a strange room with a splitting headache. Shes been kidnapped. And what she discovers will change everything she believed about her husbands death . . . her career . . . and her faith.

If someone were to kick you exceptionally hard in your shin then you might have a bone bruise. The bone doesnt break or fracture but it does bruise. Now here is the interesting part, the outside skin will heal within two weeks, bone bruises take much much longer. My point is that the outside is healed but not the inside. That is the way with trauma. After a while we heal visually to others but on the inside we are walking wounded. Thats the way it is with both Jules and Patrick. Jules suffered trauma from the death of her husband and Patrick has his own traumas. Jules shrinks from the outside world while Patrick resorts to kidnapping. Jules really didnt care much about life after the death of her husband but when her own life is at stake then she pushes aside her pain and feels the need to survive and live. Misery Loves Company is how you define exciting! Misery Loves Company is a thriller with all kinds of excitement and danger. Rene Gutteridge knows how to weave a captivating story with wonderful characters that breathe. I enjoyed reading this book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Misery Loves Company was a well-crafted book! I loved the twists and turns and surprises in the plot. I wasn't sure for awhile what the book was even going to be about, but it ended up being a story of healing and friendship. This is a fun book for reading at the beach this summer! I highly recommend it! I may try reading some of the author's other books.

This book was my first, but definately not my last, from Rene Gutteridge. Misery Loves Company is a non-stop thriller that I had a hard time putting down. The characters were well suited to the story & the story was full of all kinds of twists & turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. I can't wait to read another Rene Gutteridge book soon!!

Misery Loves Company is slightly creepy and sometimes humorous. The book does give me a new perspective on writing book reviews and being more cautious. The concept of the book has got to be fiction, right? An author would not do that, right? The book kind of has the flavor of Stephen King's Misery. I did enjoy reading it and is definitely an interesting read. I found the plot to be unique and refreshing.

Highly recommended. 5 stars