#BookReview #PatientsPrivilge #RichMorvillo #Subplot

 

Psychologist Timothy Shea is fighting a murder frame-up, but the only evidence that can clear him is a dark truth protected by the very patient privilege laws he swore to uphold. To survive, he must shatter a legendary mentor's web of weaponized secrets before the legal system’s silence becomes his death sentence.

 

Some secrets are sacred. Others are a death sentence.

With a murder investigation closing in on him, psychologist Timothy Shea is running out of time. He maintains his innocence, claiming he is the victim of a ruthless frame-up, but the evidence against him is overwhelming. His only hope lies in a dark truth he’s uncovered: his legendary mentor, Dr. Abner Reeves, has been weaponizing patient secrets for years.

But the law has set a trap. Patient privilege—the very oath meant to protect the vulnerable—now acts as a gag order, prohibiting Timothy from using the truth to save himself. While the privilege preserves Reeves’ lethal secrets in the shadows, Timothy is forced to face his judgment with his hands tied.

In the final weeks before trial, Timothy’s crusade to expose his mentor’s treachery becomes a frantic, high-stakes gamble.  Reeves vindictively furnishes more evidence of Timothy’s guilt to the police, and the battle shifts from a search for justice to a ruthless war of attrition. In his quest to pierce the privilege and expose the darkness of others, Timothy aims to convince the world that truth is on his side. Reeves and his cronies have other ideas.

In a world of professional silence, the loudest truth is the one you are willing to kill for.

 

Reviewers’ Praise for Patient’s Privilege

“That damned final plot twist. I died a little inside.” (Prachi Bhagchanda, reviewer)

“Wow! Just WOW!” (MB, reviewer)

“[A]n intense psychological thriller with many twists and turns. (Robert McCaw, author)

“Shocking, complex, brilliant. ​Patient’s Privilege expertly blends medical ethics, legal drama, and high-stakes corruption . . . A must-read for those who love a book with a bit of everything.(Diane Elizabeth Taylor, reviewer)

“It's a great, fast paced and exciting read which is fast paced enough that it never feels like there is time to put it down or get distracted, something increasingly hard to do in 2026, but also serves as a fun escape.” (TJ Mutton)

“The best kind of mystery thriller book is the one you think you've figured out and then the twist happens and you are left with your jaw on the floor. That is this book from beginning to end.”(Britney Ireland, reviewer)

“[A] creative, twisty and highly enjoyable murder mystery!” (Hannah Eva, reviewer)

 “[A]n engaging psychological crime thriller that kept me turning the pages. The novel skillfully blends legal drama, medical ethics, and suspense, creating a story that feels both intelligent and emotionally layered.” (Estelle Bouldin, reviewer) 

Rich Morvillo is a nationally recognized lawyer who co-chairs the white-collar defense group at a large international law firm.  After graduating from Colgate University and Fordham School of Law, he began his career as a trial attorney with the Division of Enforcement of the Securities and Exchange Commission and then moved on to private practice.  He is a frequent panelist at professional seminars and taught in the Master's program at Georgetown University School of Law. He resides in Washington, DC with his wife, two children and two dogs 

Inspiration behind Patient’s Privilege 

I nearly went into the field of clinical psychology when I graduated from Colgate University but, like my father and brother, opted for law school instead.  As a lawyer, I share with physicians and psychologists the ethical obligation to maintain client confidences. The fiduciary has a relationship of trust and confidence with the beneficiary and is not permitted to misuse information belonging to the beneficiary for their own purposes without authorization. For example, in the context I am most familiar with—the law of insider trading—the fiduciary may not misappropriate confidential information belonging to the beneficiary for the purposes of trading in securities.  

​

My novel deals with a diabolical faithless fiduciary.  It came to me as I reflected on an old insider trading case against a psychiatrist who allegedly used information learned in therapy sessions to trade in stocks mentioned by a patient. That got me thinking about what would happen if an unscrupulous doctor took advantage of what they learned from a patient outside the world of securities trading. What if a misguided therapist used confidential information against a patient who fears disclosure of their secrets?

This calls into question a related set of ethical principles. Like the attorney-client privilege, the doctor-patient privilege generally safeguards confidential communications between a psychiatrist (or therapist) and their patient. While the patient is free to waive that protection, the circumstances in which others may invade it are necessarily circumscribed, but not non-existent.

PATIENT'S PRIVILEGE explores the limits to the privilege as a barricade against truth.  Can Timothy Shea pierce the privilege when his patients and their doctor oppose it? Is there an exception that will frustrate Dr. Reeves’ reliance on the privilege to conceal his misdeeds? In the real world, there would be other ways of attacking the fiduciary breach than I use here, but I employed editorial license to make the story interesting and reasonably authentic. And, in doing so, I provide a glimpse into criminal and internal investigations.  

webpage is https://richmorvillo.com

I am on Facebook (@richmorvillobooks) and Instagram (@richmorvillobooks)

My book is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Mascotbooks.com

Patient’s Privilege

Written By Rich Morvillo 

Review By Heidi Lynn’s Book Reviews

 First, I want to thank Rich Morvillo and Subplot Publishing for providing me with this book so I can bring you this review. 

WOW!! Patient’s Privilege by Rich Morvillo is insanely intense, non stop eventful and fast paced right from the first paragraph! Rich grasps your attention hard and doesn’t let go til the end of the book! I absolutely love when authors do this making you want to devour the book in one sitting! 

Rich did a great job picking out the cover design for the book cover. It represented the book perfectly! 

My heart broke instantly when learning Timothy’s parents were killed in a car crash by a drunk driver. Having lost my Uncle to a drunk driver I know the pain all too well. 

Right from the start Abner rubbed me the wrong way for many different reasons and now out of the blue his wife is gone?! So many questions as to what exactly happened and why are they questioning Timothy?! 

Oh there is a wicked little twist in the story that I never saw coming with the whole Abner situation and it is good!! Rich keeps throwing us little curve balls into the mix to throw us off! It really is a good book, one that is written outside of the box. 

#BookReview #ReparentingYourInnerChild #NicoleJohnsonLPCNMED #NewHarbingerPublications

 

A gentle, validating, and insightful guide to reparenting your wounded inner child and finding peace, healing, and wholeness as an adult.

If you experienced trauma as a child—including physical, sexual, or emotional abuse; neglect; household dysfunction; or toxic stress—you may struggle with anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as an adult. Early childhood trauma can cause lasting effects, keeping you feeling stuck, lost, and unable to move forward. But you can heal the pain of the past and reclaim well-being in the present. 

If you’re struggling with unresolved childhood trauma, reconnecting with your vulnerable inner child can unlock profound healing and set the stage for profound personal growth. Written by an expert in childhood trauma, this gentle guide presents an integrative approach that merges inner child work with self-compassion techniques to help you “reparent” the wounded aspects of yourself that were lost, frozen in time, or traumatized—so you can start moving toward the life you were meant to live. 

This compassionate guide will help you: 

• Identify past trauma—and heal from its effects 
• Recognize how trauma responses can manifest in your daily life 
• Establish a connection with your wounded inner child 
• Understand your childhood needs through a new lens 
• Explore the impacts of abusive, authoritarian, passive, and neglectful parenting 
• Create a “reparenting plan” to address your unmet needs 

  

In your journey toward healing, this gentle guide can serve as a beacon of hope and resilience. By gaining a better understanding of your childhood trauma and the transformative power of reparenting, you’ll be empowered to rewrite the narrative of your past and step into a future guided by self-compassion and inner strength.

Nicole Johnson, LPC, MEd, is a licensed professional counselor and certified clinical trauma professional with a dual master’s in education and counseling, and a bachelor’s degree in political science. A member of the American Counseling Association and the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Johnson is also a certified life coach, and is owner and founder of Oak and Ivy Therapy Services. She is known as “The Ginger Shrink” on social media, and offers her nationally available virtual psychoeducation course on trauma and abuse called “Get a G.R.I.P.” Johnson presents at conferences around the country where she frequently speaks on childhood trauma, abuse, and her unique approach to healing. She hosts a virtual workshop on “Reparenting Your Inner Child,” and lives in Boise, ID. You can find out more about Johnson at www.thegingershrink.squarespace.com.

Reparenting Your Inner Child 

Healing Unresolved Childhood Trauma and Reclaiming Wholeness through Self-Compassion

Written By Nicole Johnson, LPC MEd

Review By Heidi Lynn’s Book Reviews

Reparenting Your Inner Child Healing Unresolved Childhood Trauma and Reclaiming Wholeness Through Self-Compassion written by Nicole Johnson, LPC, MED. is a very short but very meaningful read that will resonate with many readers. For me personally I found this book very educational and very relatable in many situations. 

Reparenting Your Inner Child is here to guide you find and connect the dots to show you how to discover your wounded inner child,  this book will help you exhale, release, and let go of the pain your child self has been holding on for so long.

With childhood trauma moments can alter your mind, body, and soul that natural ebb and soul that natural ebb and flow process of healing is interrupted we become stuck in that moment, froze in time and experience it over and over again, We break away from the memory. We try to move on but wake up one day not knowing who we are. Not recognizing ourselves in the mirror. 

Readers will get to read patient stories and get an insight of what they went through. 

At the end of each chapter there are takeaways and questions to consider. 

This is a deep book that gives you a ton of information. Even though this is a shorter read, it was a lot to digest in just one sitting (at least for me). It is one of those books where you can learn a lot about yourself. I would highly suggest it to others. 

#BookReview #AdultChildrenofEmotionallyImmatureParents #LindsayCGibsonPSYD #NewHarbingerPublications

 Adult Children of 

Emotionally Immature Parents

Are you one of the countless people who grew up with emotionally immature parents? If your parent's needs came first, you may still recall painful moments of childhood emotional neglect, when your feelings were dismissed, or when you took on adult levels of maturity in an effort to compensate for your parents’ lack of awareness. And although you likely cultivated strengths such as self-reliance and independence along the way—strengths that have served you well as an adult—having to be the more emotionally mature person in your relationship with your parent is confusing and exhausting.

      If you had emotionally immature parents, it took a toll on you. Emotional loneliness and self-doubts are common results of having such parents. They were so wrapped up in their own issues that they neglected your needs for connection, attention, and admiration —even expecting you to make them feel better. 

     You can free yourself from the depleting role of catering to the needs of the emotionally immature. Once you understand how these immature people function, you will no longer feel guilty or ashamed for not always putting them first. You will learn how to reconnect with your true self and live more authentically, while interacting with others in ways that keep you from becoming emotionally drained. You will also start to use the disappointments of your early life as fuel for your own adult transformation, while building skills in recognizing those all-important emotionally mature people who can help you where you want to go.

​​   This book has been a New York Times bestseller and a long-standing Amazon category leader with over 27K reviews and a 5 star rating. It has sold over 1.5 million copies, and has been translated and published into 37 languages. ​                                                                         

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With the recent publication of my latest book, How to Raise an Emotionally Mature Child,  I have continued my lifelong fascination with human psychological development and how much it depends on the  quality of our relationships. It's not a mystery why some lucky children grow up feeling confident, competent, and at home in the world: they were loved into that assurance by parents who believed in them and showed them empathy and respect as human beings. I hope this book will encourage parents to think deeply about their children, and to realize that good parenting doesn't mean they have to do everything perfectly.

    In Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents, I answered a question that has intrigued me for years: why do so many outpatient psychotherapy clients seem so much more together and self-aware than their family members?  Realizing that many of my clients’ family members were highly emotionally immature, I set out to explore and explain their hurtful interactions in a way that could free people to live their own best lives without being worn out by these draining personalities. By understanding our loved ones’ emotional immaturity, we can regain our trust in ourselves and get free from the destructive and confusing effects of early programming from childhood.

     In my first book, Who You Were Meant To Be, I focused on how people can reconnect with their true self and sense of purpose. I have devoted my professional life to helping people learn how to rely on their own emotional guidance, strengthen their self-awareness, and increase their energy for full living.

            After obtaining two independent graduate degrees in clinical psychology – Master’s and Doctorate degrees  – I became licensed as a clinical psychologist in the Commonwealth of Virginia. For many years I was also an Assistant Adjunct Professor for the College of William and Mary and Old Dominion University, teaching doctoral clinical psychology students. In my over thirty years of being a psychotherapist, I have specialized in adult psychotherapy and personal growth coaching, as well as extensive experience in doing personality and intellectual evaluations. My in-depth psychodynamic training helped me understand people’s problems from a developmental perspective, leading to my livelong fascination with the striking differences between adults in their levels of psychological maturity.

            I came to clinical psychology from a background in art and literature. Beginning in college as a studio art major, I briefly switched to psychology, where I was disappointed to find an emphasis on animal experimentation instead of understanding people. Seeking to explore human nature, I finally found what I was looking for in English literature, where human desire and motivation could be studied endlessly. Finally in my senior year, a developmental psychology class introduced me to the field of clinical psychology, providing the scientific fascination I had been seeking.

            As an avid student of human behavior, I enjoy sharing my excitement of learning with clients, colleagues, and readers of my books. I love translating specialized academic, philosophical, and clinical knowledge into something that we can all use.  Every day there is some new discovery or awareness I am eager to tell readers about. 

            I enjoy my work and writing in the seaside city of Virginia Beach, where the ocean is an everyday reminder to expand our enjoyment of living.

Drlindsaygibson.com 

Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents 

How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents

Written By Lindsay C. Gibson, PsyD.

Review By Heidi Lynn’s Book Reviews  

Adult Children of Adult Emotionally Immature Parents. How To Heal From Distant Rejecting or Self-Involved Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson PsyD. It is a book my counselor suggested that I read. This is a book that describes how emotionally immature parents negatively affect their children, especially children who are emotionally sensitive, and shows you how to heal yourself from the pain and confusion that come from having a parent who refuses emotional intimacy. I found it to be very eye opening and the subject matter painful at times. However, through it all I learned a lot. 

Writing this book for Lindsay has been a personal and professional dream come true where she has been eager to share her ideas with her. She didn’t realize how many caring and supportive people would make her dream come a reality. That support they gave her went way beyond writing this book.

Reading this book you will see why people who grew up with emotionally immature parents often feel loneliness. Lindsay shares multiple stories of her patients and gives an in-depth look into their situation. You will also explore characteristics of emotionally immature parents and types of t relationships they cause. Lindsay includes checklists to help you identify parents' emotional immaturity. 

Lindsay describes four main types of emotional immature parents and will assist you in identifying which type of parenting you may have had. 

What I found interesting was emotional loneliness comes from not having enough emotional intimacy with other people. It can start from childhood, due to feeling emotionally unseen by self-preoccupied parents, or can arise in adulthood when an emotional connection is lost. 

Then emotional intimacy is someone who can tell anything to someone who you can share your feelings with about anything and everything. Someone you feel totally safe to open to. It only works when someone does and not Judge you. 

Both emotional loneliness and emotional intimacy hit the nail on the head on so many levels. 

Parents who are emotionally immature are self preoccupied that they don't notice their children’s inner experiences. They discount their feelings and fear emotional intimacy.  They’re uncomfortable with their own emotional needs and have no idea how to offer support on an emotional level! This also hit the nail on the head in many ways!

Lacking parental connections/support many emotionally deprived children are eager to leave childhood behind. They jump into adulthood prematurely, getting jobs as soon as they can, becoming sexually active, marrying early, or joining the service. They look forward to adulthood, believing it offers freedom with a chance to belong. 

There is so much to learn from Lindsay and this book! I found it to be very informative, well researched, and well written. For me it was very relatable on many levels. I am glad my counselor suggested it. 

#BooksonTour #TheFakeWife #EmilyShiner #Bookouture #NetGalley

 

The Fake Wife

Emily Shiner

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As I watch Darren bury his wife’s body in the backyard, I know I need to act fast. I’m going to be her replacement. He’ll never know what’s coming…

The next day, I smile down at Darren in bed next to me. When he wakes up, I’m going to tell him I’m his new wife. I’ll keep this beautiful house clean and host the most fabulous dinner parties.

He’ll wonder what’s going on. He’ll wonder how I got into his house. We both know I’m not really his wife. But he will never be able to get rid of me.

Before she died, I watched Britt and Darren for longer than I care to admit. I knew her favorite white wine. I know Darren’s weekly tee time. I also know about the cheating. And the lies they told each other on their wedding day…

You might think I’m a woman in love, obsessed with someone else’s husband.

Or you might think I’m here to avenge Britt’s death.

All I know is, handsome and powerful men like Darren think they can get away with anything.

But he’s so, so wrong… 

A totally gripping psychological thriller that will keep you up all night! The Fake Wife is perfect for fans of The Perfect Marriage, John Marrs and Freida McFadden.

Readers love The Fake Wife:

“Just WOW! A crazy great read… Captivating from start to finish… A real rollercoaster of a ride that left me with whiplash and not knowing who to trust. Big 5 stars. Highly recommend.” NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Had me hookedon page1! You will be wowed from beginning to end. Bravo Emily Shiner… amazing!” nikki_carmouche, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“A delicious jam-packed novel full of twists… had my head spinning. A rollercoaster plot… just plain fun… will have you turning the pages late at night.” stamperlady50, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I am a colossal fan… gripping, perfectly paced, and absolutelyamazing… a must-read… incredible… grabbed my attention and held me captive until the final sentence… filled with unsuspecting twists and turns that kept me guessing—and second-guessing… perfect… left me absolutely stunned. A true “jaw-drop” moment… unforgettable.” britreadsbooks83, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“A whirlwind which hookedme from the word go! The twists and turns have you on the edge of your seat! Emily Shiner hit it out of the park with this one! Jaw-dropping… grabs you from the first page. I devoured this in 24 hours! This was an instant 5 stars and it will keep you up late!” arcreviews_by_m, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Absolutely unhinged—in the best way… grabs you from thefirst page… impossible to put down… just when you think you’ve got a handle on it—bam, another twist… wildly addictive… a one-sitting read that will leave you questioning everything.” MyFictionAddiction82, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Amazing book!!! Knocked it out of the park with this one!!!!” Goodreads reviewer

“All I can say is wow. I finished this in one sitting. I never saw the ending coming.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Emily Shiner

Emily Shiner always dreamed of becoming an author. After spending years devouring stacks of thrillers, she decided to try her hand at writing them herself. Now she gets to live out her dream of writing novels and sharing her stories with people around the world. She lives in the Appalachian Mountains and loves hiking with her husband, daughter, and their two dogs.

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The Fake Wife 

Written By Emily Shiner

Review By Heidi Lynn’s Book Reviews 

First, I want to thank Emily Shiner, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I can bring you this review. 

Sometimes when you start reading a book you just wonder how the author came up with the inspiration for the storyline! In Emily Shiner’s latest psychological thriller The Fake Wife her storyline was written outside of the creative box that you just had to wonder. I mean she has written some twisted stories in the past but this seemed a little more shall we say wicked?! 

I thought it was sweet that Emily dedicated this book to her grandparents. It was cute how she thought they would have been delighted-but not surprised that they wrote books. My bet is they would be very proud of the writer she has become. 

Starting out at the prologue Emily already has me hooked at the edge of my seat as I feel like a fly on the wall with the intense action unfolding in front of me. 

Ohh lets be perfectly clear on one thing I did not care for Darren at all!!! I hated how he only thought about himself and put down Britt in every single way! He was a cold hearted man! 

Scary to think that your own husband, the man that you love, is stalking you! Why in the world would he be wanting to stalk you?! Does he want her dead?!

The Fake Wife has so many wicked twists, turns and Intense story lines that will have you glued to your kindle. It is definitely one to put on your TBR list.