All They Need to Know

A Novel (Gold Creek, Book 1)

By: Eileen Goudge

Narrated by: Almarie Guerra

A woman escaping a violent past finds new friendships, romance, and tenuous sanctuary in an emotionally gripping novel by New York Times bestselling author Eileen Goudge.

On the run from her abusive husband, Kyra Smith hits the road. Destination unknown. With a neglected dog she rescued in tow, she lands in the peaceful California town of Gold Creek and is immediately befriended by an openhearted group of women called the Tattooed Ladies Club. They’re there for Kyra—and for each other.

The maternal Frannie is a tattoo artist struggling with a troubled daughter. Suzy is a self-described fashionista grandma bearing a painful estrangement from her son. Then there’s Jo, whose enviable marriage is coming undone. And bookstore owner Marisol. She longs for the kind of romance she only reads about. For them, and for Kyra, fortunes can change.

Just as Kyra parlays her artistic talents into a new career, and finally meets a man she can trust in and love, her ex tracks her down. He has a twisted plan to upend everything she now holds dear. Marshaling her renewed power and wisdom, Kyra will stop at nothing to put the past behind her. Once and for all. Whatever it takes.

©2024 by Eileen Goudge. (P)2024 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“This straightforward tale of a woman taking back her power is a good fit for readers who appreciate a heartfelt story of romantic love and female friendship with a dollop of suspense in the vein of Nora Roberts’ Three Sisters Island trilogy.” —Booklist

“An emotionally riveting read from start to finish.” —Midwest Book Review

Thoughtfulness

The primary characters were always welcoming and non-judgmental. The villain was so filled with his own ego, and carried a lot of hurt that he did not understand how to resolve. An excellent portrayal of human emotions and faith.

Good Story. . . But

Good story but there was a lot of repetition, un-needed details, and mushy trivia after what i thought should have been the ending.

Strong characters, but audiobook narrator mis-pronounced quite a few words

The audiobook narrator mis-pronounced quite a few words, which was very distracting. I liked the story and characters. I liked the strong friendships, which is typical of most Eileen Goudge novels.

Great romance story!

Loved this story, the side stories, the characters and the setting - small town friends, culture. The narration was also very good. Looking forward to reading more books written by this author!

Wonderful!

It was a great mix of everything! Love, suspense, friendship. I couldn’t put it down!

Good book with annoying parts (Spoilers)

Overall I really liked this book. There were two things that frustrated me.

1) We do not need descriptions of the outfits people are wearing. If the clothes aren’t relevant to the storyline, why spend time on it? (If someone wearing a spaghetti strap dress has a strap break, then a description of the dress is necessary to the story. If someone walks wobbly on high heels and appears drunk, then a description of the shoes is necessary to the story.)

2) There is NO WAY you will convince me that Kira knew her abusive ex was in town but was adamant she travel alone to a hotel and NOT TELL PEOPLE WHERE SHE WAS HEADED. She was afraid of him! Also, we’re supposed to believe she willingly goes with him AND lets him duct tape her wrists while she keeps her handgun hidden? I was SCREAMING inside.

Overall I did enjoy this book. Without the above frustrations, it would have easily been a 5-star review.

Beautiful story

Loved the narrator and loved all of the characters . I was sucked in immediately and stayed that way til the end!

Great story and details

Love the storyline, friendships and inspirations for all. This is quite read that keeps you interested from the beginning.

Somewhat predictable storyline

I enjoyed her story about her resolve to break free of her husband and the power she had because of the friends that she made. The writing was a little bit more than mediocre riding, but nonetheless and enjoyable listen.

Humble

I loved this book. It was so humbling and inspiring. I loved the main character and her story. It is such a true image of a woman trying to leave an abusive relationship.