Review: The Fallout by Rebecca Thornton

March 7, 2020

I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This book may be unsuitable for people under 17 years of age due to its use of sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and/or violence.

the fallout by rebecca thornton - Review: The Fallout by Rebecca Thornton

The Fallout by Rebecca Thornton
Published by HarperCollins on December 5, 2019
ISBN: 9780008373146
Genres: Fiction, Thrillers, Domestic, Psychological, Family Life, Marriage & Divorce, Women, Friendship, General, Suspense
Pages: 432
Format: ARC, eBook
Source: NetGalley, Publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

two stars - Review: The Fallout by Rebecca Thornton

The accident. The lie. The fallout will be huge . . .
When Liza’s little boy has an accident at the local health club, it’s all anyone can talk about.
Was nobody watching him? Where was his mother? Who’s to blame?
The rumours, the finger-pointing, the whispers – they’re everywhere. And Liza’s best friend, Sarah, desperately needs it to stop.
Because Sarah was there when it happened. It was all her fault. And if she’s caught out on the lie, everything will fall apart . . .
‘A fizzing, unputdownable, gripping read’ Elizabeth Day
‘The perfect page-turner’ Susan Lewis
‘Secrets, lies, suspicion and betrayal: THE FALLOUT has it all – and then some’ T M Logan

What would you do if your five-year-old son fell and got injured on your watch. Your best friend tells you they checked on him before the accident happens. He was safe and happy. You would trust that, wouldn’t you? The Fallout examines the chain of events this accident triggers; they are catastrophic, and no one’s lives will ever be the same again. Friendships should be filled with trust and compassion to what ends will the threads that hold them together snap. The Fallout examines the confines and limits of friendships and the parenting circles of school age children. The two-faced sides of mothers that spend all their time professing kindness but are entirely judgemental at every turn.

I mulled over how to review The Fallout and generally how I felt about it. It was a premise that was topically relevant but in a lot of ways it fell a bit flat. You are fully aware that these things take place. The WhatsApp groups between parents, the snippy behaviour, the envious behaviour of parents that are placed on a pedestal and you can’t help but want their life. These things are going to take place in such a technologically advanced era.

The biggest flaw in The Fallout, for me wasn’t the really the story itself. The characters didn’t connect with me nor were they very nice people. Sarah, although been through an incredibly traumatic event some of her actions were dubious at best and damaging at worst. She seemed to be more concerned about her incredibly dangerous obsession with Ella and her life rather than the safety of a child. Her actions through-out the story just pushed the dominoes over and they kept catapulting to a dangerous climax. She was naive and seemed to be lost within herself.

Liza is a woman that is still in that new-born phase of losing themselves to being a mother to a fully demanding infant. It’s hard to juggle being attentive to the baby’s needs and also being fully present to a five-year-old. It’s a very difficult balance to have successfully. The part of Liza that I just couldn’t cope with was how she let her husband, Gav railroad her into parenting decisions. He has taken the decision to separate from her but refuses to move out of the marital home, WTF is all that about? The way he talks to her is abhorrent, claiming that he needs to keep an eye on her.

Ella is the woman that seems to have it all. She knew Sarah and Liza when they were all expecting their five-year olds at the NCT workshops. She then ghosted them all and has always been the object of Sarah’s obsession. Her money, her house, her beautiful children. What is she hiding and why has she now come into their lives again. Is everything as perfect as it seems?

The Fallout is told in Sarah and Eliza’s perspectives and the viciousness that can be yummy mummies. An accident that leads to Sarah telling a lie that leads to her subsequent guilt. The mummies and their children and their exclusive fitness club was anything but my cup of tea. They all seemed so far removed from the real world. The ending, in my opinion was more of an anti-climax. The story could have been great but the execution of it didn’t work.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rebecca Thornton’s third novel – THE FALLOUT – will be published in April 2020, with a Kindle release on December 5th 2019.
Twitter: @RThorntonwriter
Insta: Rebecca_Thornton_writer

Rebecca Thornton

Review: The Haunting of Strawberry Water by Tara Gould

January 8, 2020

I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

the haunting of strawberry water by tara gould - Review: The Haunting of Strawberry Water by Tara Gould

The Haunting of Strawberry Water by Tara Gould
Published by Myriad Editions on January 29th 2020
Genres: Fiction, Short Stories (single author), Suspense, Thrillers, Women
Pages: 64
Format: ARC, Paperback
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
four stars - Review: The Haunting of Strawberry Water by Tara Gould

four stars - Review: The Haunting of Strawberry Water by Tara Gould

‘This dazzling series shows that if the barriers can be vaulted there is true beauty to be had from the lesser-walked streets of literature. These works are both nourishing and inspiring, and a gift to any reader.’ —Kerry Hudson
A gripping tale of post-natal depression, this short story reads like a modern retelling of The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and has much in common with Sarah Water' The Little Stranger in its realisation of psychological distress as a supernatural phenomenon.A new mother, traumatised by an arduous labour, tries to come to terms with being abandoned as a baby by Olivia, the mother she never knew. Set in the eponymous ‘Strawberry Water’, a mysterious 1920s country bungalow which overlooks a fast-flowing river, the story begins with a faded photograph of the woman our narrator assumes to be her mother.
Spotlight Books is a collaboration between Creative Future, New Writing South and Myriad Editions to discover, guide and support writers who are under-represented due to mental or physical health issues, disability, race, class, gender identity or social circumstance.

The Haunting of Strawberry Water catapults you into an ethereal memory of an important figure. A Mother. An extension of yourself, connected by genes and love. Someone that will stand by you until their last breath. They can protect you or they can destroy that link forever. Tara Gould depicts an elegant but deeply heart-breaking tome that displays the links between motherhood and mental health. It’s disturbing but so very perfect. Gould is an artist of trauma, she knows exactly how to inject a longing and flaw to her character. Is our outcome in life more of an inevitability due to our childhoods or can it be altered?

An extremely toxic relationship between a girl and her forgotten mother. It’s the kind of novel that will capture your attention and have you examining your own relationship with your mother. It’s deeply claustrophobic. The regimes that the abandoned daughter goes through to keep that one link to the forgotten one. The narrative voice is strong, with a sense of melancholy that seems to escalate as the character ages. It was interesting to see a child grow right before our eyes. Her mannerisms, her growth, her constant longing for answers to a broken link in a chain. Her own change into a mother herself.

It really is a story of growth and change. A coming of age story. However, I felt the story was directed more towards Olivia, the mother. Why she left, who she was, where did she go? She was the ever-present ghost in the life of a girl that shaped how she lived her own life. Becoming a mother is a massive event, it changes you in ways you never knew were even possible. You suddenly have this little bundle that you are completely responsible for and it can weigh heavily on you. Your previous life is never going to be the same again. You must change and adapt. It was a highly emotional study of relationships and hardship. Regret and longing.

The Haunting of Strawberry Water is a totally original, emotionally charged short story of incredible loss of potential. The potential of love. It’s dark and layered.

20190808 195823 768x772 1 - Review: The Haunting of Strawberry Water by Tara Gould

Tara Gould studied visual arts at Brighton University and an MA at Sussex University. Her short stories have been published in anthologies including the Asham Anthology for Women Writers, and her plays have been broadcast on BBC Radio 4. In 2016 she was Writer in Residence at Creative Futures. She lives in East Sussex.

https://twitter.com/taragouldy?lang=en

A Dark Matter by Doug Johnstone

January 7, 2020

I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

a dark matter by doug johnstone - A Dark Matter by Doug Johnstone

A Dark Matter by Doug Johnstone
Published by Orenda Books Limited on November 23 2019
ISBN: 9781912374991
Genres: Fiction, City Life, Mystery & Detective, Private Investigators, Cozy, General, Noir, Women Sleuths, Romance, LGBT, Lesbian, Psychological, Thrillers, Crime, Domestic, Women, Urban, Humorous, Black Humor, Family Life, Literary, Amateur Sleuth, Suspense
Pages: 300
Format: eBook
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
five stars - A Dark Matter by Doug Johnstone

five stars - A Dark Matter by Doug Johnstone

Three generations of women from the Skelfs family take over the family funeral home and PI businesses in the first book of a taut, page-turning and darkly funny new series.
‘I was addicted from the first page; gripping, gritty and darkly funny as hell’ Erin Kelly
‘A Dark Matter showcases a writer at the peak of his powers, except that with every book, Doug Johnstone just gets better’ Val McDermid
'Emotionally complex, richly layered and darkly funny. An addictive blend of Case Histories and Six Feet Under’ Chris Brookmyre
_________________
Meet the Skelfs: well-known Edinburgh family, proprietors of a long-established funeral-home business, and private investigators...
When patriarch Jim dies, it’s left to his wife Dorothy, daughter Jenny and granddaughter Hannah to take charge of both businesses, kicking off an unexpected series of events.
Dorothy discovers mysterious payments to another woman, suggesting that Jim wasn’t the husband she thought he was. Hannah’s best friend Mel has vanished from university, and the simple adultery case that Jenny takes on leads to something stranger and far darker than any of them could have imagined.
As the women struggle to come to terms with their grief, and the demands of the business threaten to overwhelm them, secrets from the past emerge, which change everything...
A compelling, tense and shocking thriller and a darkly funny and warm portrait of a family in turmoil, A Dark Matter introduces a cast of unforgettable characters, marking the start of an addictive new series.
_________________
‘A fiendish mystery that is also deeply moving and laced with suitably dark humour ... set to be one of the books of the year’ Mark Billingham
‘This dark but touching thriller makes for a thoroughly enjoyable slice of Edinburgh noir’ Mary Paulson-Ellis
‘A tense ride ... strong, believable characters’ Kerry Hudson, Big Issue
‘Dark, engrossing, impossible to put down. By turns a crime thriller, a family saga, and a page-turner, this book has everything!’ Luca Veste
'That rare book with heart and smarts to lift it above your average crime novel’ Stuart Neville
‘I can never get enough of Doug Johnstone’s thoughtful, observant, soul-lifting writing’ Louise Beech
‘Piercing, wonderfully real and so very readable ... a breath of fresh air’ LoveReading
‘This is confident, assured characterisation that carries the story brilliantly well and keeps the reader utterly immersed in the interwoven story strands’ Live & Deadly
‘A Dark Matter is further proof that Doug Johnstone is as versatile a writer as they come ... there’s rhythm and music in his words’ From Belgium with Booklove
‘A thriller that begs to be read in one sitting. Highly recommend’ The Book Review Café
‘Deliciously chilling, with a wry humour running throughout ... toxic, unsettling and just perfect’ Random Things through My Letterbox

The dark sense of Scottish humour has never been utilised to its full potential. Until now. A Dark Matter is a multi-layered double entendre that is pushing itself to the surface. It capitulates the dreich weather, the wounds that get hidden by alcohol but it’s all held up by the innate will of three immensely strong female characters. They are determined. They are strong and above all…no-one should try to fuck them over! Orenda Books is my go-to publisher for crime fiction and when you find an author that drips in his skill for getting the average scots character down, you know you’re onto a winner.

We have a trio of incredibly strong women. At the top of the matriarchy is, Dorothy. A spunky 70-year-old Californian. She should be commended on her ease for settling in Scotland so well. It really can’t be easy coming from those sun kissed beaches and being faced with dreich and dour weather. She married the love of her life and they were there for each right until the end. Dorothy is a widower, a mother, a grandmother and nothing stands in her way. She put everything into her life with Jim. Their funeral director business, their marriage but did Jim feel the same way? What changed?

Jenny, Dorothy and Jim’s daughter. I loved her. She’s fallen on hard times. She’s been made redundant, she is struggling with the payments on her flat, she seems to have lost her direction in life. Her daughter is grown up, flourishing at university but Jenny seems to be going from situation to situation. Craig her ex treated her appallingly, cheated on her and left her to pick up the pieces. She doesn’t suffer fools gladly but her moral compass is still intact, despite the circumstances. She is now living back with her mum after her father’s passing and is aiding in the funeral directors and the private investigation business. Can she finally find what’s missing and move forward?

Hannah, Jenny’s daughter can be a wee bit obsessive. She focusses on the end goal and never loses sight of it. She is one smart cookie. She is neutralised and held up by her partner, Indy. What a team they make. They are each the others Ying and Yang. Hannah is rocked by the disappearance of her flatmate, Mel. She knows something isn’t right, and my Jove, she’ll get to the bottom of it.

Never doubt how strong a woman a can be, nor how dangerous. Hand this book to those who doubt and wait for their reactions – there are three Skelf women in this story and they are definitely a force to reckoned with. Each one is struggling with their grief. Dorothy finds out her husband has been making strange payments from their business account to an unknown woman. Jenny needs to navigate her new life and her case involving a cheating man. Hannah needs to focus on finding her friend otherwise where will her thoughts take her?

Events lead to a crescendo of shocks and emotion. Will the Skelf women be swallowed up cold hard facts? Are they dabbling in things that they have no right dabbling in? It’s all very bleak – love and death are two sides of the same coin.

I’m very pleased this is going to be a series, I can’t wait to see what the author has the Skelf women getting up to next. The author hasn’t only created a bubble of death and mystery but real deep-thinking points also. He has addressed the #metoo issue and carved away the fog that often surrounds it. Women are so often brought up around by everyday misogyny that sometimes it can be difficult to picture it a different way. Would it be viewed differently if women were treating men in the same way. Even when they do, it seems to be more of a non-issue. The metoo movement needs to be tackled from both angles and Doug Johnstone does that eloquently.

Dark Matter was like quicksand. When you opened the books pages it sucked you in, further and further, until you were all in…nothing was going to pull you out. Doug steers you in each direction, a myriad of compulsive, addictive stories. He’s the crazy driver but you got in his car willingly. You’re in for the long haul, there is no getting out. It really is a book of self-discovery of three immovable women. They discover a lot about themselves. The backdrop was spot on, a true portrayal of Edinburgh. From the weather to the culture, each woman sees their city differently. Their experiences aren’t the same. It really breathes a dark and foreboding element into its pages…fear lurking within.

A Dark Matter is hypnotically readable. It was intense and surreal with a sense of creeping dread pouring from its spines. Doug Johnstone is a master craftsman that will continue to get better and better. This book had me gasping for breath at its sheer brilliance.

Doug Author Picture scaled - A Dark Matter by Doug Johnstone

Doug Johnstone is the author of ten novels, most recently Breakers (2018), which has been shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year. Several of his books have been bestsellers and award winners, and his work has been praised by the likes of Val McDermid, Irvine Welsh and Ian Rankin. He’s taught creative writing and been writer in residence at various institutions – including a funeral home – and has been an arts journalist for twenty years. Doug is a songwriter and musician with five albums and three EPs released, and he plays drums for the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers, a band of crime writers. He’s also player- manager of the Scotland Writers Football Club. He lives in Edinburgh.

https://dougjohnstone.com/

Blog Tour: Stay Mad, Sweetheart by Heleen Kist

November 25, 2019

I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

stay mad sweetheart by heleen kist - Blog Tour: Stay Mad, Sweetheart by Heleen Kist

Stay Mad, Sweetheart by Heleen Kist
Published by RED DOG Press on February 21, 2020
ISBN: 9781913331351
Genres: Fiction, Thrillers, Suspense, Technological, Women
Pages: 296
Format: eBook
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

five stars - Blog Tour: Stay Mad, Sweetheart by Heleen Kist

THERE'S A FINE LINE BETWEEN INNOCENCE AND GUILT. AN EVEN FINER LINE BETWEEN JUSTICE AND REVENGE.
Data scientist Laura prefers the company of her books to the real world - let alone that cesspit online. But when her best friend Emily becomes the victim of horrific cyberbullying, she makes it her all-engulfing mission to track down the worst culprits.
Petite corporate financier Suki is about to outshine the stupid boys at her firm: she's leading the acquisition of Edinburgh's most exciting start-up. If only she could get its brilliant, but distracted, co-founder Laura to engage.
Event planner Claire is left to salvage the start-up's annual conference after her colleague Emily fails to return to work. She's determined to get a promotion out of it, but her boss isn't playing ball.
As the women's paths intertwine, the insidious discrimination they each face comes to light. Emboldened by Emily's tragic experience, they join forces to plot the downfall of all those who've wronged them.
But with emotions running high, will the punishments fit the crimes?
A pacy suspense fiction novel with its feet firmly in the #MeToo era.
9 to 5 meets Suits with a dash of Black Mirror.

Happy new week to everyone! Well I am extremely excited to bring to you my review for Stay Mad, Sweetheart by the awesome Heleen Kist. In order for a reader to truly enjoy a book they need to connect with it on some level, be that a previous experience, a love for the story or a topic that you have wanted someone accurately depict for some time. This is the book that we all didn’t know we needed. This book ticks all the boxes. The writing is plain addictive with kaleidoscopic complexity. Now I know that the term – favourite book of the year is thrown around a lot, but this book truly deserves that title, it deserves the awards, hell its importance makes it essential reading.

So, what is there to reel you in, if I haven’t already convinced you to pick this book up now? A locked room of human emotion

Everyday sexism

Online bullying and trolling

A compulsively heart-breaking mystery

Sexual Abuse

Sizzling girl power

Strong female characters

I’m not sure that I give this book the justice it so rightly deserves. Heleen Kist has created a Literary sensation, it’s the book of our time. This book was created to move- it propels forward and doesn’t look back. This book was so in your face and garners your attention immediately from the very first page. The book was almost too hot to touch. You will not be able to put this book down until its done…

Data Scientist, Laura is one hell of a character. She’s the hero we didn’t know we needed. She’s cleverer than the average, she’s a good friend and daughter but she also has her insecurities and she damn near relatable to every woman I know. She’s had the knowledge, the know-how and the balls to build her company from nothing with her partner, Justin. He’s the face, she’s the brains. I wish I had her strength…she may not know it but boy is she the epitome of strength. her dad has died, and her mum is remarrying, and her partner is headed in a different direction. She feels she can’t control any of these things…but she takes derisive action in finding out what happened to her best friend. She has the knowledge and drive to nail whoever is to blame.

Now the main theme within the book is equality or lack thereof. She becomes acutely aware that she has been manipulated by a male colleague. This is all going on during the company’s acquisition. She’s shocked, hurt and betrayed. How in this day and age can such equality be allowed to breed and fester? Luckily her acquaintance with two other wronged woman leaves her feeling empowered and ready to kick some ass! I love the spunk the trio of women have and their desire to change things for the better. Laura is special, it’s the choices she makes, the morals she has instilled within herself and the decision not to take it anymore. Her strength of character is inspiring, and you just can’t help flying through the pages. She has gone from the victim to an independent ass kicking woman. She doesn’t let anything stand in her way, justice will be done, and she will come out on top. Heleen Kist weaves this multi-faceted web, and yet during all this Laura doesn’t lose her humanity, the need for revenge doesn’t change who she is, she just won’t stand for everyday sexism/equality to be lurking in the corners threatening to engulf them whole. The Me-too movement needs someone like Laura and her friends. Those guys are the true superhero’s in our messed-up world.

I just adored the nerdy element to Laura’s character. It just brought her to life all the more. This made her the perfect one to do some technological take downs. I related to her from the very start and loved that she was introverted, was in love with her books. Laura is definitely the character you would want as your best friend. She has built a software programme that can run data through it so that it can detect if an employee is suffering with discontent, depression/anxiety but it can also highlight who are true influencers and who is bad guys. It is truly radical. Their journey to revenge and justice is a harrowing one but it is so worthwhile.

Stay Mad, Sweetheart is as sharp as a knife. An expert at crafting thought provoking content and leaving you feeling empowered. This novel is so patently heartfelt, a necessary read for everyone. Important with imagery that leaves you in the centre of the storm, you feel anguish. Just please go and read this now…it’s that good.

Thank you to Dylan @Red Dog Press for my spot on the blog tour and a copy of the book. All thoughts are unbiased.

I’m Heleen and I love writing novels.

If this sounds like an addiction, that’s because it probably has become one.

I’m Dutch and I live in Glasgow with Scottish husband and our two kids.

My debut crime novel IN SERVITUDE came out in 2018. I’m very proud of its success in various awards + reviews.

STAY MAD, SWEETHEART is my latest novel: a dark yet empowering feminist thriller that’s getting rave reviews already.

Have a look around and stay in touch through Twitter, Facebook or my newsletter.

Blog Tour: Safe House by Jo Jakeman

October 31, 2019

I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

safe house by jo jakeman - Blog Tour: Safe House by Jo Jakeman

Safe House by Jo Jakeman
Published by Penguin on March 10, 2020
ISBN: 9781984802101
Genres: Fiction, Thrillers, Psychological, Suspense, Women
Pages: 352
Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

four stars - Blog Tour: Safe House by Jo Jakeman

She's paid the price for giving her ex a false alibi, and now she's moved to a seaside village to escape her past--but more than her lie follows her there in this chilling and twisty psychological thriller from the author of the acclaimed The Exes' Revenge.
One day, a woman turns up in a remote coastal village. She's bought a crumbling, long-vacant cottage and calls herself Charlie Miller. Charlie keeps to herself, reluctant to integrate with the locals. If they ever find out who she really is, and what she's done, she'll lose what little she has left.
Charlie served two years in prison for providing a false alibi for a murderer. It was the mistake of a woman in love, a woman who couldn't believe her boyfriend was guilty--or lying to her. All she desperately wants now is a fresh start.
As Charlie slowly lets down her guard and becomes friendly with her neighbors, she can't shake the feeling that someone is watching her, someone who knows what she did. When one of her new friends suddenly disappears, Charlie's worst fears are confirmed. She must confront her past head-on, but as she knows all too well, everything is far more dangerous than how it appears.

My huge thanks to Mia Quibell-Smith for my spot on the blog tour and for my copy of the book, It’s a stunner! All thoughts are my own. Safe House examines the ramifications of loving and protecting the wrong man. Should love bend irrefutably? It makes the connection of just how far you’d be willing to go for the one you love. If you are a fan of dark humour you are going to be in for a treat. Safety doesn’t happen by accident.

Being an avid psychological Thriller fan, I get extremely excited about the premise of a new, fresh idea. I’ve read hundreds in this genre, so I can end up feeling jaded when I pick up a new one and it doesn’t take me long to decide if it’s for me. The prologue swallowed me whole and ensured I had fastened my seatbelt for the rollercoaster ride that lay ahead of me.

Jo Jakeman is a new author for me and I haven’t had the pleasure of reading her other story, Sticks and Stones. I will rectify that immediately. She is purveyor of bone chilling dread, she has created the anti- hero. A girl you feel you shouldn’t like very much due to the severe consequences her actions have led to, but her skill flicks a switch and you struggle to not like her. Not feel gut wrenching emotion for her. Not wanting her to continue suffering. As the saying goes, love is blind. There is never a truer saying than that. We want to be able to trust our own instincts. We all believe we are impeccable judges of character, we all want to see the best in people. No-one wants to accept that we are living with the monster, no dark alleyways but an evil figure lurking just behind you. They don’t just reside in your home, but they make a bed in your head…can you escape it? The eerie undertones contained within this gem of a book not only had me looking over my shoulder but checking my door was locked also. It may be more a case that I’m a bit of a masochist when it comes to the thrillers I typically enjoy reading but this emitted all the emotions and fear that I need to feel in order to LOVE a book. I love that it had me gasping, questioning human emotion and making a completely relatable character. Is it really such a stretch that love would have us making misinformed choices? The human condition doesn’t just fit nice and neatly into a box, it’s stretched, it’s torn but most of all its complex.

A psychological thriller is only as strong as its main character. Charlie, or should I say Steffi Finn Loved beyond measure, she thought nothing could separate her and Lee. She loved him without question. So, when asked to provide an alibi for Lee on the night of the murder of a woman she did so. Even though he treated her appallingly. Even though he didn’t feel half of what she did for him. Even though he used and abused her. No matter what she stood by her man. Now, I know what you’re thinking, why on earth would you lie for him? She was a manipulated woman; would you want to believe that your fiancé was a murdering piece of shit. She had no reason to believe he was lying. The police were only trying to fit him up, right? WRONG!! How wrong can you be? Wrong enough to allow another murder to take place and you ending up with a ten-month prison sentence to just nail it home.

We meet Steffi as she completes her sentence. She’s navigated the harsh conditions in prison, she’s struggling with guilt. Her parents have both died whilst she was inside, friends have moved on and the community have a long memory. She has no-one. I have to admit I struggled to warm to her at this point. She was involved with the actions of her fiancé, she enabled him to kill again. I didn’t have a lot of sympathy for her. Could she turn it around? Could a fresh start help her move forward?

Oh yeah, even though she needs a fresh start, there are people that believe she doesn’t deserve it, people that would be more than happy to make her very sorry for her part to play in the murders.

The narrative in this novel was simply dynamite. It was hard hitting, with its multi POV’s, both from the past and the future. The dark humour etched within the story was also a great touch and kept me captivated from page 1 until the end. The newspaper articles gave an unreliable narrative some edge to what she was going through, it was real and raw, and I loved it. My head constantly felt as though it was on red alert. You had Steffi’s feelings and emotions, you had Ben’s (wait until you meet that twisted individual) and you had the newspapers squiffing it all up, giving you a distorted view of the events. This psychological thriller has dialled up the paranoia metre up to 100. Steffi was living her life looking over her shoulder, and boy with good reason.

I loved the way we get catapulted into Steffi’s anxious psyche. Let’s be honest, it isn’t a healthy place to be. She’s on edge, she’s paranoid, she reads small details to be significant. Surely nothing is a coincidence anymore? She’s a hard character to fully support, I mean you lived with the guy, how couldn’t you have known he was murdering scum? But the dark, cold truth is…anyone of us could be Steffi. It’s an uncomfortable realisation to make, but it’s there all the same, love is blind, but love can also be uncomfortable.

I can’t ruin the delicious twists and turns but just know that the author has lain treasure for you to uncover, how far you dig for that treasure is up to you. The author has penned a different and authentically unique take on the genre and that takes guts and a magician’s wand…luckily the author has both. The slow burn makes it all the more satisfying and just rest assured you are in good hands with Jo Jakeman who delivers a cold and heart rendering tale of deceit, love and a price to pay. Trust no-one not even yourself.

JO JAKEMAN was the winner of the Friday Night Live 2016 competition
at the York Festival of Writing. Born in Cyprus, she worked for many years
in the City of London before moving to Derbyshire with her husband and twin boys. Safe House is her second
novel and Sticks and Stones was her debut thriller.

Buy Safe House Now. It’s only 99p through-out November on amazon.

After The Flood by Kassandra Montag

August 28, 2019

After the Flood by Kassandra Montag
Published by HarperCollins on September 3, 2019
ISBN: 9780062889393
Genres: Fiction, Women, Action & Adventure, Dystopian
Pages: 432
Format: ARC, Paperback
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

five stars - After The Flood by Kassandra Montag

A Chicago Tribune Best Book of the Year
An inventive and riveting epic saga, After the Flood signals the arrival of an extraordinary new talent.
A little more than a century from now, our world has been utterly transformed. After years of slowly overtaking the continent, rising floodwaters have obliterated America’s great coastal cities and then its heartland, leaving nothing but an archipelago of mountaintop colonies surrounded by a deep expanse of open water.
Stubbornly independent Myra and her precocious seven-year-old daughter, Pearl, fish from their small boat, the Bird, visiting dry land only to trade for supplies and information in the few remaining outposts of civilization. For seven years, Myra has grieved the loss of her oldest daughter, Row, who was stolen by her father after a monstrous deluge overtook their home in Nebraska. Then, in a violent confrontation with a stranger, Myra suddenly discovers that Row was last seen in a far-off encampment near the Arctic Circle. Throwing aside her usual caution, Myra and Pearl embark on a perilous voyage into the icy northern seas, hoping against hope that Row will still be there.
On their journey, Myra and Pearl join forces with a larger ship and Myra finds herself bonding with her fellow seekers who hope to build a safe haven together in this dangerous new world. But secrets, lust, and betrayals threaten their dream, and after their fortunes take a shocking—and bloody—turn, Myra can no longer ignore the question of whether saving Row is worth endangering Pearl and her fellow travelers.
A compulsively readable novel of dark despair and soaring hope, After the Flood is a magnificent, action packed, and sometimes frightening odyssey laced with wonder—an affecting and wholly original saga both redemptive and astonishing.

I was provided with this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

Wow absolutely blown away Montag’s debut novel. This is a fictional high five to feminism and female centred characters. When the publisher put out a request for bloggers to review this I just couldn’t say no. The cover is artistic and intriguing and if anyone knows me well, they know I’m a huge climate change worrier. This dystopian gem ticked all the boxes and had me hungry for more…just one more page turned into just one more chapter and before I knew it was done. This book is the so unputdownable, it’s got brutal action, but the deeper themes are what touches your soul. It’s a tragic look at what happens when a natural disaster changes the course of how humans operate and survive in a changed world and how we deal with loss, grief and the indestructible will to keep going.

The heart of the story is centred on an unbelievably strong mother, Myra’s will to protect her eight-year-old daughter from unspeakable dangers. This is not the world we have grew to know. There is no guaranteed safety blanket, people’s motives aren’t always clear (and if they are – it’s usually to do something heinous.) The world is now a place that is frightening and unstable. Myra is also on a mission to save her now 12-year-old daughter who was abducted by her father, Jacob, when she was still pregnant with Pearl. The plight of a mother doing anything and everything despite the impact it may have on her is admirable and frightening that a world could become this untenious. Myra discovers that her daughter is being held until she is old enough to be transferred to a “breeding ship” where the raider crews enforce women to become pregnant to repopulate their crews. What a horrendous thought!

“Children think we make them, but we don’t. They exist somewhere else, before us, before time. They come into the world and make us. They make us by breaking us first.”

The realism in this novel is scarily close to coming to fruition. This is the result of climate change that scientists have been warning us about, pleading with us to make changes, begging world leaders to act before it’s too late. It’s already too late for Myra. The rains and continuous flooding has eroded away the coastline, villages, towns and cities. There is only one option and that is to head towards the middle of the land – one that is now becoming overpopulated, everyone has the same thought. Eventually everything will be gone, there is no happy ever after in this scenario. All you have to do is switch on the news and see the footage of the Amazon rainforest overcome with flames to be faced with the stark reality that climate change is a very real and already here. Myra and her daughter, Pearl live on the boat her grandfather built called The Bird. Their survival depends upon trading fish. During one such escapade they come across a survivor called Daniel, he just happens to be a navigator – a skill Myra is sorely missing. The Bird ends up shipwrecked in a disastrous storm and hesitantly Myra suggest Daniel join them on a quest north to where she strongly believes her daughter, Row is located.

I had feared losing them, but there were moments that desire lurked right at the edge of that fear. Set loose from them, I could give up, I told myself. I could slip away into the water, no longer fighting, no longer pretending to be strong.

After the flood is one of the best dystopian novels I have read in recent years. This is not a light entertaining read – it’s harsh, it’s dark and it really SHOULD frighten you. This is where we are headed, our story won’t be a work of fiction. Kassandra Montag and absolutely nailed the Dystopian genre and expect massive things for this novel.

Review: Don’t Ever Tell by Lucy Dawson

June 18, 2019

I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

dont ever tell by lucy dawson - Review: Don't Ever Tell by Lucy Dawson

Don't Ever Tell by Lucy Dawson
Published by Bookouture on June 25, 2019
ISBN: 9781786819642
Genres: Fiction, Psychological, Thrillers, Suspense, Mystery & Detective, Women Sleuths, General, Crime, Legal, Women, Family Life
Pages: 278
Format: ARC, eBook
Source: Publisher
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Goodreads

five stars - Review: Don't Ever Tell by Lucy Dawson

Never make a promise you can’t afford to keep…
This is a story about Charlotte – a mother and a wife with the perfect job, the perfect life… at least, that’s how it looks from the outside.
But behind closed doors, the marriage is breaking, and Charlotte’s husband Tris doesn’t even know how much. He has no idea what Charlotte has planned for him, who she has found. But he doesn’t have long to wait to find out…

Don’t Ever Tell will keep you gripped from the very first page and have you guessing until the very last. From the bestselling author of The Daughter and White Lies comes an unputdownable psychological thriller unlike anything you’ve read before!

Readers are obsessed with Lucy Dawson:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, what a book!… grabs you from the very beginning and doesn't let you go until the very last page… An absolutely fabulous, nail-biting thriller!!' Stardust Book Reviews

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘WOW.... I LOVED IT, best book this year, if you read one book this decade read this!!’ Goodreads reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I read this in a series of gulps, unable to stop turning the pages… Stunning.’ Cass Green
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Gut-wrenchingly brilliant and addictive.’ Roz Watkins
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Absolutely BRILLIANT. Twisty and compelling, guaranteed to make the reader question who is telling the truth. I devoured it in one sitting.’ Lisa Hall, author of Between You and Me

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Omg this book was soooo good. I couldn't put it down… It was such a shocking twist at the end. All the revelations that came to light at the end were fantastic. This book had everything. Great characters, content and a shocking ending. What more do you want from a book?’ Goodreads reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A tense, emotional read with brilliant twists. I absolutely loved it.' Susi Holliday

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘There were so many twists and turns that I didn’t see coming at all... just when you thought you had it figured out... you didn’t!!’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A scary psychological novel with an exceptionally well-written plot… the end was completely unexpected and left me open-mouthed.’ Goodreads reviewer

My goodness this was scarily real and relatable I just Couldn’t stop reading. If you seriously only read one book the rest of the year, do yourself and favour and make it this one! It really is a story of you don’t know what goes on behind closed doors. Charlotte appears to have the perfect life, a loving husband, two gorgeous children, a job that she loves albeit struggling with the balance of it, the nice house and car. Life couldn’t be better, or could it? Under the surface, Charlotte and Tris’ marriage is struggling , it’s just a rough patch, isn’t it?

Charlotte – under pressure but rational??

Charlotte truly loves working from home. She’s a good writer but struggling juggling family life and her professional life – squeezing in time to write in between cooking teas, school runs and illness. Tris, is often working away from home, could he do more to ease her strain? Does he do more to cause strain? Absolutely.

One day at a book signing in Edinburgh, Charlotte is a approached by a young fan who hauntingly looks like a younger Charlotte. It is so striking that it stops Charlotte in her tracks…Apparently it hasn’t gone unnoticed by her husband either. The young fan called Mia is a struggling actress , struggling to make ends meet and has a disturbed past. She’s vulnerable and haunted.

The two women’s paths cross again when Charlotte’s sister, Flo reveals a secret about her husband, she really didn’t see coming. Charlotte turns up at a performance Mia is starring in and gives her a proposition she really can’t turn down. This reveals Charlotte’s darker side and her tenacity for her end game.

Mia is caught in the crossfire

Mia is the character I felt more empathy for. She had come out the other side after some extremely dark moments in her life. She worked to get herself into a healthy place and yet, the events that transpired in this book could have quite easily unravelled all her hard work. She was definitively a vulnerable character that in the end got played by them both.

Nothing breaks like a heart.

Plot – blown out the park

I haven’t read anything by Lucy Dawson before but by god this won’t be the last book I pick up from her. Outstanding, Psychological thriller at it’s best! This was by far the best take on the revenge thriller that I have come across so far. The plot is dark and twisted and executed oh so amazingly well! The main character was unreliable and darkly motivated herself and although you could surmise the way the plot was developing the ending was a surprise and it blew me away. Bravo Lucy Dawson, Bravo.

The Honeymoon by Rona Halsall

June 4, 2019

The Honeymoon by Rona Halsall
Published by Bookouture on June 17, 2019
ISBN: 9781786819505
Genres: Fiction, Thrillers, Psychological, General, Noir, Women, Mystery & Detective
Pages: 350
Format: ARC, eBook
Source: Publisher
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Goodreads

five stars - The Honeymoon by Rona Halsall

‘I’m your husband, Chloe. We’re a partnership now and we do what’s best for us as a couple.’

Chloe finally feels like she’s got her life together. After a difficult childhood and losing both parents, she worked hard for the life she loves in lively Brighton, helping people as a physiotherapist. And then she meets the perfect man.

It’s a whirlwind romance, but Dan is handsome, funny, and simply the kindest man she’s ever met. When she sees him standing by the altar, tears glistening in his eyes, she knows this will be for always.

As they sunbathe on their honeymoon island, laughing over drinks, planning their future with their feet in the sand, Dan jokes that he’d like them to stay there forever.

At first, Chloe couldn’t agree more. It’s tempting to imagine truly leaving her troubled past behind. But as the honeymoon goes on, he becomes increasingly adamant. They shouldn’t leave. In fact, he won’t let her…

Is he protecting her, as he claims? Or is it something more sinister? An utterly gripping psychological thriller for fans of Gillian Flynn, Clare Mackintosh, and The Wife Between Us.

Readers are loving The Honeymoon:
‘A story full of secrets, twists and unexpected wow moments! This thriller will keep you hanging on the edge of your seat until the very last page. I highly recommend.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘I loved how many twists there were… It made it so exciting to read and the whole book I was dying to know what was going to happen next… And I could never have guessed… Such a rollercoaster ride!... Exciting and twisty.’ Goodreads reviewer

‘A 5 star book for me! It had that ball of mixed feelings, adrenaline, twists!... I absolutely loved The Honeymoon and cannot recommend the book enough! Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘An enthralling read packed full of secrets and lies. It’s one of those books that draws you straight in from picking it up and making it very hard to put back down again. Will certainly keep you on your toes and have you on the edge of your seat.’ By the Letter Book Reviews, 5 stars

‘Kept me guessing the whole way through… I absolutely loved this book, it was a real page turner… Bursting with mystery and deeply buried secrets.’ Ramblings of a Book Addict

‘I absolutely 100% loved this book! A 5 star read… The Honeymoon had it all...twists, turns, a beautiful setting, characters we want to hate and ones we want to love, paranoia, and a sense of something bad about to happen… CRAZY AND TWISTED!’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘A twisty book, full of surprises… I couldn't put down even if I tried, I was reading practically open mouthed at the way the finale picked up pace (well what I thought was the finale!). And still the shocks kept on coming, all the way to the last page.’

‘A must-read gripping, twisty, addictive, brilliant read.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘I devoured this book in one night—it definitely kept me on the edge of my seat! There were many unexpected twists, right up to the very end! Highly engaging book, I definitely recommend!’ Goodreads reviewer

‘Five big shiny well deserved stars!… A story full of secrets, twists and unexpected wow moments! This thriller will keep you hanging on the edge of your seat until the very last page. I highly recommend.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘So many twists and turns; right when you think you know what is going on, the author throws another twist at you to prove how wrong you are. Wow the ending was amazing I never saw it coming and it hit you like a ton of bricks. I wish could read this story again for the first time just to get that huge shock. Great read ,I loved it.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

Well, you know that moment when you close a book and you just have to take a moment to sit and think over what you have just read…Yes, you say. Well this is just one of those books. Gripping, Scream at the pages and Intellectually satisfying is how I would instantly describe this book. I haven’t rated a book as 5 stars in a while, this just ticked all of my boxes, it was just that amazing. Here is a few reasons why;

Chloes character arc goes from needing to be wanted by anyone to a strong and powerful force.

We meet Chloe, a practising physiotherapist within the NHS, treating Dan’s mother, who has taken a fall and needs assistance in regaining her strength. Chloe is immediately taken with Dan’s looks, we have a narrative of her failed relationships, her failed relationship with her brother and sister and gran (reasons will be revealed) and she is carrying guilt and responsibility around with her like a ton weight around her neck. She is sucked into Dan’s charm and almost can’t believe her luck that we would be remotely interested in her. They have a very quick courtship that leads to marriage within the space of two months (I know right?!) The wedding arrangements are made and the rest is history or is it? Is it possible that Chloe’s married bliss could be now filled with seeds of doubt?

Dan is more than a bit bat-shit cray cray

Dan seems like the perfect gentleman. Dan wine and dines her every night. Dan wants to spend every minute with Chloe. (RED MASSIVE WARNING BELLS HERE, SURELY?) He cares for his mum, surely that says more about his character than the claxons that were going off in my head? Dan proposes so soon and the wedding is rushed along in a few months with only around 6 guests. They both head off on their honeymoon and things start to go wrong. He alters decisions without having a discussion first, he does some hugely irrational, counterproductive, dumb assery things. Halfway through the book, I just found myself shouting at Chloe for being so damn niave.

Secrets are kept between the two of them leading to a catalyst of it all exploding out. One particular moment being when Dan has nightmares that give Chloe more insight than Dan would either like or want. Chloe shows admirable loyalty to those she loves but there has to be a point where she figures out 2+2=4.

The writing is outstanding

The initial few pages of the book just completely grabbed me and I knew I had to keep reading. The subject matter was very intense but it evoked such emotion from me and that alone in my opinion made this book a success. The story flowed brilliantly, it didn’t feel stagnated or slow. It went along at the pace it was meant to. It had my heart in my mouth and I just had to keep reading to find out the outcome of the story.

Plot – Well Executed

The plot was a serious and intense and for some it could be a trigger when reading. The author handled it appropriately and made it very believable, but in a very fear inducing way. It left you thinking that this could easily happen to you or I. You knew as soon as Chloe arrived in Menorca with Dan that it wasn’t going to be plain sailing and there would be difficulties along the way, just how extreme these difficulties would be were a bit of a shock. The author executed the dialogue and the emotions so well that I could feel anger and fear on behalf of Chloe. The twists and turns weren’t confusing, you had those a-ha moments and just utter shock at some of the actions. The plot was intricate but easy to follow.

Overall, this was an amazing, fast -paced book to read. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys getting lost in Psychological Thrillers.

Book Review: Thoughtless by S.C Stephens

May 16, 2019

Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens
Published by Simon and Schuster on August 16, 2012
ISBN: 9781476717494
Genres: Fiction, Romance, New Adult, Contemporary, Women, General
Pages: 608
Format: Paperback
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five stars - Book Review: Thoughtless by S.C Stephens

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author S.C. Stephens comes a powerful and emotional contemporary romance featuring a young woman in a new city who finds herself torn between her handsome, reliable boyfriend and a sexy local rock star.
For almost two years now, Kiera’s boyfriend, Denny, has been everything she’s ever wanted: loving, tender, and endlessly devoted to her. When they head off to a new city to start their lives together—Denny at his dream job and Kiera at a top-notch university—everything seems perfect. Then an unforeseen obligation forces the happy couple apart. Feeling lonely, confused, and in need of comfort, Kiera turns to an unexpected source—a local rock star named Kellan Kyle. At first, he’s purely a friend she can lean on, but as her loneliness grows, so does their relationship. And then one night everything changes…and none of them will ever be the same.

S.C Stephens is the leader in making you feel happy, deeply sad and down- right rage inducing angry!

The story basically starts off with Kiera moving to Seattle to be with her boyfriend Denny, who has recently accepted an internship in the city. This is where she meets the Rock god, Kellan.

Denny is unexpectedly forced away for 2 months for work, which leaves Kiera upset and distraught at being left in a strange city all alone. Her “friendship” with Kellan turns into something more with “ innocent” flirting, that one night leads to a sexual drunken encounter with Kellan.

Kellan goes through the emotions of cold, sarcastic and back to loving again after their encounter. Denny is now home and Kiera falls back into his arms. This is the first place I wanted to scream at her! I mean seriously! Even at this point you all knew that Kellan felt more for her than his usual one nighters.

Kellan is heartbroken and decides to leave as he just can’t watch Denny and Kiera together. She begs him to stay selfishly. This leads to an explosive sex scene in the espresso stand. The chemistry is palpable between them, but Kiera leaves him cold, when she leaves him for Denny, AGAIN!

Do You Want me Inside you again?
Kellan Kyle

The back and forth friendly flirting takes up a large chunk of the book until Anna, Kiera’s sister turns up for the weekend.

Anna is attracted to Kellan and Kiera fizzles with silent rage. She doesn’t know why? Seriously, uh I don’t know?? Maybe because you are in love with him, you stupid girl! They all go out clubbing, Denny leaves her alone on the dancefloor and she is approached by Kellan. Dirty Dancing doesn’t have a look in. Sexy gyrating leads to Kiera trying to strip the clothing off him. This was so fucking hot!! Kellan escapes away from her as Denny re-emerges.

Kiera made a huge mistake here in my opinion. She went home and had sex with Denny but mentally it was Kellan she was with. Does this not tell her something?? Jeeee-Whizz that girl can be thick!

This all blows everything to a head where Kellan calls it off, but in Kiera’s mind Kellan slept with her sister that night. Talk about a cluster fuck? Kellan starts “dating” again. Yeah, ok if your idea of dating is sleeping with a different girl every night.

Everything comes to a head when Keira can take no more and blows at him at Pete’s bar. She slaps him very hard after a crude comment. Kellan finally breaks down in the back room after an intense exchanging of words.

“I’m so in love with you, Kiera. I’ve missed you so much. I’m so sorry. I’m sorry i say awful thing to you. I’m sorry I lied about your sister. I never touched her. I promised you I wouldn’t. I couldn’t let you know..how much I adore you…how much you hurt me”

You think it’s a happy ever after there, right? WRONG!! She goes between the two still back and forth. I really felt every emotion that Kellan felt. I bawled like a little girl for him, I felt pure rage for him. I wanted to smack the living daylights out of her.

She picked Kellan. Then she picked Denny. GOD GIRL GET IT TOGETHER!! Until finally Denny found out. Not from Keira telling him either. The showdown led to Keira protecting Kellan from a blow from Denny which she took, this led her to a stay in hospital.

Denny leaves her. Kellan leaves her. Although, I felt she deserved it, I was sad for Kellan, you could obviously see that Keira was his world.

Anyway, Keira moves into a new flat. She’s lost without Kellan. She is the depths of depression. She finally realises she loves him. Only took you how long?? Anna takes her to a show and her heart breaks at the melancholy of Kellan’s singing. She finally convinces him that its him she wants, forever.

So, this book grabbed my heart and pulled it clean out of my chest and stamped all over it. So far this is the only book to make me majorly cry and hurt for the characters. I love Kellan!! He is the man whore of all man whores. The hottest fictional rock god of all time. Keira, well I believe she was a naive girl who probably felt lost and confused in her feelings for both men. I could of given this book 10 stars. I need a minute!

One Week Girlfriend (#1) by Monica Murphy

May 12, 2019

One Week Girlfriend by Monica Murphy
Published by Random House Publishing Group on January 10, 2013
ISBN: 9780988369443
Genres: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Coming of Age, Women
Pages: 290
Format: eBook
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

four stars - One Week Girlfriend (#1) by Monica Murphy

Breakout sensation Monica Murphy takes the romance genre by storm with the deeply emotional, completely addicting story of Drew and Fable. Temporary. That’s the word I’d use to describe my life right now. I’m temporarily working double shifts—at least until I can break free. I’m temporarily raising my little brother—since apparently our actual mother doesn’t give a crap about either of us. And I always end up as nothing but the temporary girlfriend—the flavor of the week for every guy who’s heard the rumor that I give it up so easily. At least Drew Callahan, college football legend and local golden boy, is upfront about it. He needs someone to play the part of his girlfriend for one week. In exchange for cash. As if that’s not weird enough, ever since he brought me into his world, nothing really makes sense. Everyone hates me. Everyone wants something from him. And yet the only thing Drew seems to want is . . . me. I don’t know what to believe anymore. Drew is sweet, sexy, and hiding way more secrets than I am. All I know is, I want to be there for him—permanently.
Praise for One Week Girlfriend
“A sweet and sexy read with a dash of angst. It will hook you from page one!”—Under the Covers
“The author had me hooked within the opening pages. What a great debut novel by Monica Murphy! . . . All I have to say is pick up the book and be prepared for the roller coaster you are about to get on. . . . You will not want to miss this book and this author.”—Shh Moms Reading
“I chose this book to be the book. The perfect book that would make the world stop for a few hours and suck me into another universe completely. The perfect book that would make my heart race and stop all at the same time. This book is that book! This book is perfect!”—The Obsessive Reader
“A deep and thought provoking story . . . Be on the lookout for Monica Murphy because I’m sure you’ll be hearing more great things from her!”—Mostly YA Book Obsessed
“A delicious read, hot romance, complicated characters and intense drama.”—Literary Cravings
“An emotional and heartbreaking storyline . . . Monica Murphy pulls the reader in and won’t let go.”—The Reading Cafe
“An amazing read! . . . [I] can’t wait to continue the emotional journey of Drew and Fable.”—A Bookish Escape

Drew Callaghan is an obviously traumatised hero, Fabel has the weight of the world on shoulders, what with looking after her 13 year old brother, Owen and her alchoholic mother. She works every job she can to make ends meet. Drew on the other hand comes from a different life- doesn’t need to struggle, money comes easy, been able to attend school and play football and can have any woman he choses…or is he able to? Why is Drew so emotionally closed off? Why does Fabel have such a reputation as a whore, is it wholly accurate?

Thanksgiving is approaching and Drew is emotionally torn about going home for the holidays. He approaches Fabel and they come to an arrangement, she and he will pretend to be a couple for 7 days, for a price. Fabel can’t no afford to take Drew up on his offer, it would provide her family with a bit more security for a few months.

It’s pretty obvious from the get go that Drew has some pretty dark secrets. As a reader I think its pretty obvious what those secrets are, and when it comes out the level of cringe I felt was off the scales.

Honestly, I don’t quite know how we got to this point. I hated him on sight. I did this only for the money. I thought he was a fucked up mess. I still think he’s a fucked up mess. But so am I. And he’s so beautiful, so thoughtful, so vulnerable. We can be a mess together. I want to heal him. I know I can heal him.

I rated this 4/5 stars….wow, I felt every emotion under the sun- from turmoil, giddiness to absolute pure hatred. Why did I leave it so long to read this book, bravo Monica Murphy. I really couldn’t put this one down and look forward to reading the next installment. Character development was good, the secret was a little bit predictable – I had worked out what was troubling Drew but still loved the story and the chemistry between the two main characters. The ending had my screaming WHY over and over

“Like souls find each other, you know. As corny as it sounds, I’m starting to believe we were brought together for a reason.” ~ Fable