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Book Review: Best Intentions by Emily Listfield

June 1, 2009 by Darlene

Best Intentions by Emily Listfield has a bit of everything I love. There’s a murder mixed with high drama and lies in both marital relationships and the relationships we carry on with our friends. This novel started out slowly for me but I was intrigued and once it took off I was hooked. I could not put it down until I finished it and it ended far before I was ready. I found it quite suspenseful and I found myself flying through the pages to find out what would happen next.

This story is mainly centered on Lisa, a successful business woman, wife, mother and friend. It’s about what happens when a reunion of four college friends spark memories that result in a downward spiral towards disaster. It’s about the unknown and how it can drive you crazy after Lisa, for some reason even she doesn’t know, decides to listen to a message left on her husband Sam’s phone. She was already feeling bad enough about their marriage, feeling like the spark had gone out and now this-a message from another woman!

To top things off she’s already feeling the pressure from their own financial troubles of having to keep their two daughters in an exclusive boarding school. She’d love to just put them in the ‘free’ public school system but her husband won’t hear of it. Lisa feels really out of her element with all the society moms at the school. It’s just not her thing and not the life she had expected to have. Then to add insult to injury, her boss sells the company that Lisa has been practically running and that starts yet another snowballing disaster.

Lisa shares her fears with her best friend Dierdre but Dierdre insists it can’t be possible. Really though, can Lisa trust Dierdre’s opinion when she’s never really had the best judgment when it comes to men-probably not. As the drama unfolds Lisa is left with more questions than answers when it comes to her husband’s faithfulness and she finds herself drawn to another man in friendship, but maybe more?

Then Jack, the final part of the four from college arrives in town. He and Dierdre had a stormy relationship back in college and it looks as though Jack would like to rekindle that. It seems that things really unravel in Lisa’s life from this point on and she finds herself on a horrible rollercoaster ride that just won’t quit where love and loss collide.

I also really liked the character development in this novel especially Lisa’s. You feel drawn into her life, her troubles. By the time the murder occurs halfway through the novel you are well acquainted with everyone and it makes trying to figure out who committed the murder even more enticing. For myself, I really wasn’t positive on the killer and the story follows to an ending that was perfect.

I also really enjoyed Emily’s writing style. There are many great quotes to share in this novel but I’ve only picked a few…

  • ‘Suspicion crackles and pulls, nags and infiltrates, it coils around your brain, distorting your perceptions, it is the smoke you see everything through that refuses to lift. But a lie, hard and indisputable, freezes in your lungs, its ice spreading through your pores, chilling every synapse; a lie once discovered paralyzes you.’ (page 73)
  • ‘The past is never really over. Our interpretation of it may shift like a kaleidoscope, it may inform us or lead us astray, it may bring comfort or delusion, an excuse to hate or a reason to love. Some of us race too quickly to try to escape it, some of us cling so tightly it blinds us to the present. But one way or another, it is always with us.’ (page 331)

Emily Listfield has a really good novel here. It makes us ask questions like, ‘do we ever really know the people closest to us?’, and ultimately in the end, ‘who can we really trust?’. This is a good book for those who like a fast paced, suspenseful read with lots of twists and turns.

Make sure to visit Emily’s website here and her blog here. Best Intentions was released May 5, 2009 and you can purchase it here in the US and here in Canada.

Be sure to stop by tomorrow at Peeking Between the Pages for a guest post from Emily and more! Many thanks to Lauren for sending me Best Intentions to read!

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Filed Under: 100+ Reading Challenge 2009, 2009 ARC Reading Challenge, 2009 Book Reviews

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Madeleine says

    June 1, 2009 at 11:49 am

    I loved this ARC book, I am curious enough to order some of her other books.

    thank-you for your great review Dar

  2. Mary says

    June 1, 2009 at 11:50 am

    Great review, Dar. It’s on my TBR list 🙂

  3. Jill says

    June 1, 2009 at 1:24 pm

    Great review…glad you enjoyed this one, too! I went back and forth on the killer myself…

  4. Blodeuedd says

    June 1, 2009 at 1:33 pm

    Nice review, and it does sound good. I like those questions in the end, a good book should get you thinking

  5. Ti says

    June 1, 2009 at 2:26 pm

    I like a good, fast paced read once in awhile and those passages you shared make me want to read more.

  6. Julie says

    June 1, 2009 at 3:49 pm

    Great review, I want to read it now!! Thanks:)

  7. Scrap girl says

    June 1, 2009 at 3:51 pm

    Great review. Sounds like it is full of drama and suspense. The quotes are good too.

  8. samantha.1020 says

    June 1, 2009 at 4:05 pm

    This sure does sound interesting! And I always end up enjoying a good suspenseful read so thanks for the heads-up!

  9. Sandy Nawrot says

    June 1, 2009 at 4:35 pm

    I’ve seen this one circulating around, and it intrigues me. Nice job on the review!

  10. Susie Tudor Daughter says

    June 1, 2009 at 6:35 pm

    Great review, Dar! You have two awards over at my blog
    http://tudordaughter.blogspot.com

  11. TheChicGeek says

    June 1, 2009 at 6:52 pm

    Great review, Dar! This sounds like a really good one. I love a good mystery 🙂

    Happy Reading!

  12. Wrighty says

    June 1, 2009 at 9:47 pm

    This sounds so good! I’ve added it to my list. Great review!

    Every time I look at your photo on your profile, it reminds of myself. I’ll have to send you my photo sometime because it’s kind of spooky. Probably not in real life but the photos are very similar. (Great beauties, each of us!)

  13. Diane says

    June 2, 2009 at 2:39 am

    Can’t wait to get this book! Thanks 4 the post!

  14. Staci says

    June 2, 2009 at 2:49 am

    I thought it was great too!! I’m definitely going to read her other books. Loved your review…mine will be posted next week sometime!! 🙂

  15. Serena says

    June 2, 2009 at 3:58 pm

    I just won a copy of this book from Book Escape. I cannot wait to get this one in the mail!

  16. Toni says

    June 2, 2009 at 5:06 pm

    Great Review Dar… will be going to see the author post next! You have me wanting to read another book.. shame on your badself!!

  17. Thoughts of Joy says

    June 2, 2009 at 6:30 pm

    I love the premise of this book.

  18. etirv says

    June 2, 2009 at 11:18 pm

    Would love to read this book, thank you!
    delilah0180 (at) yahoo (dot) com

  19. Joanne says

    June 3, 2009 at 4:14 pm

    Whenever I read a book description that includes a group of old friends coming together again, I am instantly fascinated.
    This sounds like a wonderful read, lots going on and it seems like there's tension galore in the various relationships.
    Thanks so much for the terrific review 🙂

  20. naida says

    June 4, 2009 at 12:56 am

    great review, i'm reading this one too :O)
    http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

  21. Dar says

    June 4, 2009 at 3:44 pm

    Jill, usually when I read books I can pick out the killer but this one really did have me wondering. I liked that.

    Wrighty, please do email me a pic. You've got me curious now. lol.

    Staci, I'd like to read more by her also. I'll be watching for your review.

    Serena, I'll be watching for your thoughts on it.

    Toni, I know, I'm naughty for expanding those bookshelves of yours. lol.

    Joanne, lol. I'm the same. A group of old friends gets me every time and especially when there's some strife included in there.

    Everyone else, thanks for popping by and leaving a comment on my review. As always I appreciate it. If you do get a chance to read the book, please let me know. I'd be interested in your thoughts on it.

  22. Anna says

    June 18, 2009 at 6:08 pm

    I've heard such good things about this book. Thanks for posting those passages. I'm thinking I like her writing style. Great review!

    –Anna
    Diary of an Eccentric

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