First-Time Mother
- Judith D Collins
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
By: A.J. Campbell
Narrator: Tamsin Kennard
ISBN: 9781836186274
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: 04/14/2025
Format: e-book
My Rating: 5 Stars (ARC)
#BlogTourHost Apr 14
My family say I’m unwell. They think I can’t care for my baby. But they’re lying. Who can I really trust?
My delicate newborn, Lola, is just perfect. Seeing her gorgeous little face look up at me, I know the difficult birth was worth it. And I swear I’ll never let anyone hurt her.
My stepchildren say they love their new little sister, and my wonderful husband Max is so happy. He reassures me that the blackouts I’m having are normal: I’m sleep-deprived, and I just need help.
Accidents keep happening around the house. Max and his children look at me pityingly. I know what they’re thinking. She can’t cope. But why can’t I shake the feeling something else is going on?
Then one day I go to check on Lola and what I see changes everything…
Because my baby isn't there.
An edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller perfect for fans of Frieda McFadden, Jeneva Rose and The Girl in Seat 2A. Prepare to stay up all night reading!
About the Author
AJ CAMPBELL is an Amazon USA top 40 bestselling author of ten psychological suspense novels and promises stories full of twists, turns and torment.
AJ draws inspiration for her stories from seemingly unbelievable situations in which ordinary people find themselves. She creates compelling characters that resonate with her readers. AJ lives in the UK on the Essex / Hertfordshire border with her husband, sons, and cocker spaniel, Max. She is a dog lover, Netflix junkie, and a wine and Asian food enthusiast. And, either reading, watching TV, or writing, AJ enjoys nothing more than getting stuck into a twisty story!
Connect with AJ
Exceptional Authors.
Standout Books. Elevator Talk.
Behind the Book & the Author
INTRIGUING QUESTIONS. INQUIRING READERS WANT TO KNOW.
with bestselling author
AJ Campbell & First-Time Mother
Welcome to the first April 2025 #LitLiftMiniAuthorChats, a part of the #AuthorElevatorSeries collection. Notable guest author AJ Campbell (personal favorite) joins us for the first time with her highly anticipated tenth psychological thriller, FIRST-TIME MOTHER. Out, April 14th.
Trust me, you are going to love her devious plot twist!
Join us as Amanda shares some fascinating behind-the-scenes exclusives from the book and up-close-and-personal fun moments from this talented author.
Welcome Amanda!
Behind the Book
Q. Give us your best ELEVATOR PITCH for your new book.
Annie’s life is falling apart. She’s a first-time mother and is struggling with her new baby. Her husband believes she’s depressed, but she knows something far more sinister is going on in their blended family set-up.
Q. DESCRIBE your novel in three words or less.
Twisty psychological thriller.
Q. TOPICS: Name 1-3 topics or themes addressed in the novel?
Blended families and difficult stepchildren.
Post-partum depression.
Secrets, lies and deceit.
Q. DID YOU KNOW? Name 3-5 things (or more) that readers may (or may not) know about your book or series.
· This is my tenth published psychological thriller.
· I can’t tell you much about my favourite scene because I’d spoil the plot. Let’s just say it involves what I believe to be my best plot twist to date.
· I’m a hybrid author. I’ve self-published seven books and have written four with Bookouture, the fourth of which will be published in August 2025.
· If the book were made into a film, I’d choose Kiera Knightly to play Annie.
Q. UPCOMING: Can you share what you are currently working on or what is next in ten words or less (or more)?
- I’m finalizing the line edit for my next psychological thriller!
Behind the Author
Q. DID YOU KNOW? Name 3-5 things that readers may (or may not) know about YOU, the author.
· I published my debut novel in my fifties. It’s never too late!
· As well as running my publishing business and writing, I’m a mum of three who loves going to the theatre and travelling.
· My guilty pleasure is singing Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift at the top of my voice while I do the housework!
· I adore flowers – all kinds. And I love ready-salted crisps eaten at the same time as a square of chocolate. Try it. You won’t be disappointed.
· I run a fun Facebook for my readers – TeamAJ. You can join it HERE.
Thank you, Amanda, for spending time with us today!
14 April 2025
Bookouture Books-on-Tour
My Review
A.J. Campbell returns with her latest twisty and jaw-dropping domestic thriller, FIRST-TIME MOTHER —her best yet!
Sleepless nights can be more terrifying than anything from the horror shelves. A pulse-raising thriller that keeps you guessing until the very last page.
About...
Annie and Max are married. Max has twins (17-year-old Jacob and Jasmine) who reside with them. Their mom is deceased. The couple also has a four-month-old new baby girl, Lola.
However, Lola is quite colicky, and Annie desperately needs sleep and help. Max is not a lot of help either and tells her she needs to hire a nanny or go to therapy.
She has not bonded as she should with her daughter and worries she is going insane or MAD.
Plus, they are undergoing significant home renovations, which are stressful and involve constant disruptions. Within days of Max's proposal, he had arranged for the contractors. Max is too busy with his business and the possible sale. Plus, the twins are there and do not seem to like her no matter how hard she tries.
Strange things happen: the lost keys, a fire, bad dreams, and she is losing blocks of time. Is it due to sleep deprivation or something more sinister?
Are the twins jealous, or is her husband trying to eliminate her? What about her sister? Then, Max hires a nanny, Zoe. She seems capable but makes Annie feel inadequate. Can she trust her?
Then, their worst nightmare.
The baby is missing, and everyone blames Annie. Is someone setting her up, and who has her baby girl?
Annie can trust no one. Not her husband, nanny, her sister, or her stepchildren. Annie has secrets and feels guilt, but why take her baby? What is the motive? Gaslighting?
What is going on? She must find her daughter.
My thoughts...
A.J. ramps up the suspense and suspicion from the first page and never lets up in FIRST-TIME MOTHER. A deviously twisted thriller.
You may think you know where the book is headed, but you will be incorrect. With clever plotting, twists, misdirection, red herrings, and surprises, readers will be glued to the pages to learn the motive. That ending ??!!! So clever.
You will love Annie and cheer for her if you have ever been a mother trying to do it all, a stepmom to two teens on top of it, working, and undergoing home renovations.
From revenge, obsession, trust, motherhood, blended family, lies, and plenty of dark secrets with characters you cannot trust— a well-written domestic psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping twist. I would like to see perhaps a sequel to continue this saga.
Audiobook...
I had the privilege of reading the book and listening to the audiobook narrated by the mega-talented Tamsin Kennard (a favorite), elevating the story to new heights and making the characters come alive with emotion, drama, and suspense for a superior, engaging listening experience. This is a MUST-Listen audio!
Recs...
FIRST-TIME MOTHER is for fans of the author and those who enjoy works by Freida McFadden, Jenova Rose, Christina McDonald, K.L. Slater, Miranda Rijks, and Emily Shiner.
Interview & Blog Tour Stop...
Stay tuned for my upcoming #LitLiftMiniAuthorChat and Blog Tour Stop, where we go behind the scenes with the talented author, Amanda, and the book. (pub day April 14)
Thanks to Bookouture and Hachette UK for a gifted advanced review and listening copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub date: April 14, 2025
