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The Neighbour
Love thy neighbour or fear thy neighbour?
For myself and Lauren, my 10-year-old daughter No3 Beech Close was to be our refuge after two years of hell nursing my sick mother.
In need of a fresh start and wanting to distance ourselves from the bad memories of my mother’s house we moved to Beech Close, a small cul-de-sac of six houses situated around a picture-perfect green.
It seemed perfect but I had underestimated the secrets that this tightknit community shared.
Within hours of moving in my next-door neighbour Valerie made it abundantly clear we were not welcome.
I soon discovered that Valerie hadn’t welcomed the previous occupant either and she’d since disappeared without a trace.
Had I put myself and my daughter in danger moving to Beech Close?
Which neighbours, if any could I trust?
And how far would they go to keep their secret?
For myself and Lauren, my 10-year-old daughter No3 Beech Close was to be our refuge after two years of hell nursing my sick mother.
In need of a fresh start and wanting to distance ourselves from the bad memories of my mother’s house we moved to Beech Close, a small cul-de-sac of six houses situated around a picture-perfect green.
It seemed perfect but I had underestimated the secrets that this tightknit community shared.
Within hours of moving in my next-door neighbour Valerie made it abundantly clear we were not welcome.
I soon discovered that Valerie hadn’t welcomed the previous occupant either and she’d since disappeared without a trace.
Had I put myself and my daughter in danger moving to Beech Close?
Which neighbours, if any could I trust?
And how far would they go to keep their secret?
308 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 5, 2023
About the author
Gemma Rogers
10 books365 followersGemma Rogers lives in West Sussex with her husband, two daughters and a bouncy French Bulldog called Boycie.
Her love of writing began in her early teenage years, inspired by hours spent buried in Point Horror, Richard Laymon and Christopher Pike with the occasional Judy Blume thrown in for good measure.
Other passions include movies - horrors especially (who doesn't love a good scare), country walks, swimming and anything involving cake.
Her debut novel Stalker was released on the 10th September 2019, quickly followed by *The Secret in January 2020, and **The Teacher in May.
Gemma's fourth novel ***The Mistake was published January 2021, followed by The Babysitter in September.
The Feud came next in May 2022, then The Neighbour in January 2023 and The Flatmate in June 2023.
Gemma's ninth title The Good Wife is due out on 5th March 2024 and available to pre-order now!
All are standalone titles.
*The Secret was previously published as Payback
**The Teacher was previously published as Reckless
***The Mistake was previously published as Bad Girls
Her love of writing began in her early teenage years, inspired by hours spent buried in Point Horror, Richard Laymon and Christopher Pike with the occasional Judy Blume thrown in for good measure.
Other passions include movies - horrors especially (who doesn't love a good scare), country walks, swimming and anything involving cake.
Her debut novel Stalker was released on the 10th September 2019, quickly followed by *The Secret in January 2020, and **The Teacher in May.
Gemma's fourth novel ***The Mistake was published January 2021, followed by The Babysitter in September.
The Feud came next in May 2022, then The Neighbour in January 2023 and The Flatmate in June 2023.
Gemma's ninth title The Good Wife is due out on 5th March 2024 and available to pre-order now!
All are standalone titles.
*The Secret was previously published as Payback
**The Teacher was previously published as Reckless
***The Mistake was previously published as Bad Girls
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 231 reviews
March 25, 2023
4⭐
Featuring ~ single 1st person POV, single mom, dementia, references to child abuse
Shelly and her 10 year old daughter, Lauren, have moved into the tight-nit neighborhood of Beech Close after Shelly's mom has passed away. Shelly's house is the only rental out of 6 houses making her already feel like an outlier. But when she figures out the previous tenant, Danielle, moved out abruptly and is now deemed missing she can't help but suspect her neighbors know more than they are letting on.
It was a bit slow moving since there is a lot more monologue than dialogue making for some long paragraphs. It took me a few chapters to keep everyone's name and house number straight. There were some delightful and some not so delightful characters and everyone seemed like they could be a suspect one time or another. I really enjoyed Shelly and Josh's relationship ~ they were definitely bff goals. Josh's mom, Joyce, was great too. I loved Teddy the dog ~ he was referenced so often that I thought something bad might happen to him, but thankfully he was unharmed throughout.
My heart was really pounding at the end there ~ one of my biggest fears is what happened after she was out of the van. I was really pleased with how everything turned out. I'll definitely be reading more of Gemma's work in the future.
*Thanks to Gemma Rogers, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me here ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
Featuring ~ single 1st person POV, single mom, dementia, references to child abuse
Shelly and her 10 year old daughter, Lauren, have moved into the tight-nit neighborhood of Beech Close after Shelly's mom has passed away. Shelly's house is the only rental out of 6 houses making her already feel like an outlier. But when she figures out the previous tenant, Danielle, moved out abruptly and is now deemed missing she can't help but suspect her neighbors know more than they are letting on.
It was a bit slow moving since there is a lot more monologue than dialogue making for some long paragraphs. It took me a few chapters to keep everyone's name and house number straight. There were some delightful and some not so delightful characters and everyone seemed like they could be a suspect one time or another. I really enjoyed Shelly and Josh's relationship ~ they were definitely bff goals. Josh's mom, Joyce, was great too. I loved Teddy the dog ~ he was referenced so often that I thought something bad might happen to him, but thankfully he was unharmed throughout.
My heart was really pounding at the end there ~ one of my biggest fears is what happened after she was out of the van. I was really pleased with how everything turned out. I'll definitely be reading more of Gemma's work in the future.
*Thanks to Gemma Rogers, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me here ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
January 18, 2023
Welcome to the Neighborhood!
Shelly and her 10-year-old daughter, Lauren, are ready for a new start. Shelly had been taking care of her sick mother for the last two years. It was a stressful and difficult endeavor. A new beginning is just what Shelly and Lauren need. Shelly feels so lucky to have a home in a beautiful neighborhood.
Valerie, the next-door neighbor is less than impressed with her new neighbors. Shortly after moving in, their dog left a mess in her yard and Valerie made her thoughts crystal clear to Shelly.
It turns out that Valerie did not like the previous tenant either. No one knows why the woman left so abruptly. Every community has its secrets and there is always that one grumpy neighbor, but location is everything, isn't it?
I enjoyed the mystery in this book. Right from the beginning, things begin to happen and it's clear that Shelly and her daughter did not move into Mister Rodgers neighborhood. The characters/neighbors in this book are an interesting bunch. They all have distinct personalities and after getting to know them, it becomes obvious that there is more going on with most than meets the eye.
A new beginning becomes a tense and anxiety filled experience for Shelly. As she tries to uncover what happened to the woman who lived in the home before her, there is an uneasy feel to the book. The tension mounts as secrets are revealed.
This was my first book by Gemma Rogers, and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.
#TheNeighbour #NetGalley
Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Shelly and her 10-year-old daughter, Lauren, are ready for a new start. Shelly had been taking care of her sick mother for the last two years. It was a stressful and difficult endeavor. A new beginning is just what Shelly and Lauren need. Shelly feels so lucky to have a home in a beautiful neighborhood.
Valerie, the next-door neighbor is less than impressed with her new neighbors. Shortly after moving in, their dog left a mess in her yard and Valerie made her thoughts crystal clear to Shelly.
It turns out that Valerie did not like the previous tenant either. No one knows why the woman left so abruptly. Every community has its secrets and there is always that one grumpy neighbor, but location is everything, isn't it?
I enjoyed the mystery in this book. Right from the beginning, things begin to happen and it's clear that Shelly and her daughter did not move into Mister Rodgers neighborhood. The characters/neighbors in this book are an interesting bunch. They all have distinct personalities and after getting to know them, it becomes obvious that there is more going on with most than meets the eye.
A new beginning becomes a tense and anxiety filled experience for Shelly. As she tries to uncover what happened to the woman who lived in the home before her, there is an uneasy feel to the book. The tension mounts as secrets are revealed.
This was my first book by Gemma Rogers, and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.
#TheNeighbour #NetGalley
Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
December 17, 2022
In need of a fresh start and wanting to distance ourselves from bad memories of my mother's house, we move to Beech Close, a small cul-de-sac of six houses situated around a picture-perfect green. It seemed perfect but I had underestimated the secrets that this tightknit community shared. Within hours of moving in, my next-door neighbour, Valerie, made it abundantly clear we were not welcome. I soon discovered that Valerie hadn't welcomed the previous occupant either and she'd since disappeared without trace.
After the death of Shelly's mother, she wants a fresh start so Shelly, her daughter Lauren and their dog Teddy move to Beech Close. But her new neighbour, Valerie, seems to have taken an instant dislike to them. The characters are a mixed bunch, some likeable, others not so much. There's a creepy vibe surrounding bouse number three. The pace is steady. Shelly starts looking into the previous tenant's disappearance, but has she gotten herself too involved? This is a well written and gripping read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #GemmaRogers for my ARC of #TheNeighbour in exchange for an honest review.
After the death of Shelly's mother, she wants a fresh start so Shelly, her daughter Lauren and their dog Teddy move to Beech Close. But her new neighbour, Valerie, seems to have taken an instant dislike to them. The characters are a mixed bunch, some likeable, others not so much. There's a creepy vibe surrounding bouse number three. The pace is steady. Shelly starts looking into the previous tenant's disappearance, but has she gotten herself too involved? This is a well written and gripping read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #GemmaRogers for my ARC of #TheNeighbour in exchange for an honest review.
May 9, 2023
I really liked how the author captured Shelly's uncomfortable newcomer to a close-knit cul-de-sac as the relationship between her neighbour became instantly rocky as Beech Close newest resident dog Teddy decided to go toilet in the wrong yard!
Valerie obviously not impressed makes it clear that Shelly and her 10 year old daughter Lauren not welcomed.
It's a bad to start to the move as Shelly had hoped that the fresh start would do then good after spending the previous two years caring for her sick mother.
The main mystery that Shelly discovers that Valerie hadn't welcomed the previous occupant either makes her worried, especially as they disappeared without a trace.
I loved the suspicion and tension rises throughout the novel as Shelly is fascinated to learn the truth of Danielle's fate.
Valerie obviously not impressed makes it clear that Shelly and her 10 year old daughter Lauren not welcomed.
It's a bad to start to the move as Shelly had hoped that the fresh start would do then good after spending the previous two years caring for her sick mother.
The main mystery that Shelly discovers that Valerie hadn't welcomed the previous occupant either makes her worried, especially as they disappeared without a trace.
I loved the suspicion and tension rises throughout the novel as Shelly is fascinated to learn the truth of Danielle's fate.
November 26, 2022
Shelley has had a bad few years,very bad,her Mum’s dementia had become life changing for all and although Shelley has done her best the last few years have not been easy,now,after her Mum’s passing she has moved….a fresh start with her daughter,they chose a respectable,quiet cul de sac…….life was going to become easier
Except it didn’t and Shelly soon realises she has moved to a very secretive and dark neighbourhood where she feels she can trust no one……she feels she is in danger….she doesn’t realise just how much
I love a story about moving home,new neighbours and discovering who is who and trying to fit in but in this dark story we are kept very much on our toes as there is much more than ‘fitting in’ to worry about….told in the authors own special way that draws you into a characters life, there is real tension and a thrilling storyline as Shelly battles to figure out the secrets she has become apart of and that are threatening to take over her life
I always really enjoy this authors books and this once again is a fast paced exciting drama,a great read
10/10
5 Stars
Except it didn’t and Shelly soon realises she has moved to a very secretive and dark neighbourhood where she feels she can trust no one……she feels she is in danger….she doesn’t realise just how much
I love a story about moving home,new neighbours and discovering who is who and trying to fit in but in this dark story we are kept very much on our toes as there is much more than ‘fitting in’ to worry about….told in the authors own special way that draws you into a characters life, there is real tension and a thrilling storyline as Shelly battles to figure out the secrets she has become apart of and that are threatening to take over her life
I always really enjoy this authors books and this once again is a fast paced exciting drama,a great read
10/10
5 Stars
July 31, 2023
Shelley has moved house with her daughter Lauren aged 10 to Beech Close to start again.
She had been looking after her sick mother for the last 2 years, so this is a fresh start for them both.
However Valerie is not so welcoming to her new neighbours and had history with the previous tenant who left so suddenly.
This is such a great read, full of secrets and suspense. Who can you trust?
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
She had been looking after her sick mother for the last 2 years, so this is a fresh start for them both.
However Valerie is not so welcoming to her new neighbours and had history with the previous tenant who left so suddenly.
This is such a great read, full of secrets and suspense. Who can you trust?
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 16, 2022
Shelly needs a new start and moves as far away as she can with her daughter. They both hope they can heal and move on. However, their new neighbor gets in the way . . . The previous tenant disappeared and she's getting notes telling her to leave.
Spooky, full of intrigue, and so mysterious. I would have liked a little less focus on trauma and dementia and more of the mystery at hand. Otherwise, this was excellent. Unexpected twists adding up to a pretty good thriller.
Spooky, full of intrigue, and so mysterious. I would have liked a little less focus on trauma and dementia and more of the mystery at hand. Otherwise, this was excellent. Unexpected twists adding up to a pretty good thriller.
July 16, 2023
*Fresh Start*
After two years of looking after her sick mother who put them through hell, when she passes away, Shelly & her daughter Lauren need a fresh start.
Shelly soon finds a new place to rent while awaiting the sale of her mother’s home. There are only a few homes in the cul-de-sac and it is in the catchment area for the school that Lauren will attend.
Having finally settled into the new home it soon becomes clear that nothing is what it seems.
The female members of the close seem all to be perfectly dressed immaculate makeup etc not far off The Stepford wives. Shelly is not like them and when she comes across items from the previous tenant, things take a turn for the worst as there are buried secrets that some will not welcome being exposed. The more questions she asks about the previous tenant, the more Shelly unwittingly puts herself in danger. Will she ever be able to find the truth? Who can be trusted….
After two years of looking after her sick mother who put them through hell, when she passes away, Shelly & her daughter Lauren need a fresh start.
Shelly soon finds a new place to rent while awaiting the sale of her mother’s home. There are only a few homes in the cul-de-sac and it is in the catchment area for the school that Lauren will attend.
Having finally settled into the new home it soon becomes clear that nothing is what it seems.
The female members of the close seem all to be perfectly dressed immaculate makeup etc not far off The Stepford wives. Shelly is not like them and when she comes across items from the previous tenant, things take a turn for the worst as there are buried secrets that some will not welcome being exposed. The more questions she asks about the previous tenant, the more Shelly unwittingly puts herself in danger. Will she ever be able to find the truth? Who can be trusted….
June 14, 2023
I liked this book but not enough because it felt incredibly slow and the plot development too obvious. It was only the last quarter that I got truly invested but even then, I could foresee how the novel would conclude.
It appears that Shelly has landed on her feet with her new rental property. The greenery of Beech Close is idyllic, the identical homes look charming and the neighbours are, well, rather friendly. Even Shelly sees the irony that the women are more like 'Desperate Housewives' than they realise, and I think this was one of the reasons why Shelly tries to maintain a bit of a distance – coupled with the fact that she is a single mother too.
However, despite trying to keep away from her new neighbours (which I wasn’t quite convinced was the right thing to do), events unfold that leave Shelly questioning their personalities. The previous tenant of her home has been reported missing, her immediate neighbour seems to want to terrorise her, and the saccharine nature of the neighbourhood seems too good to be true. Shelly can’t help but ask questions, especially when she uncovers a disturbing message inside her house. What really happened to Danielle? Are her new neighbours what they seem?
Rogers is very keen for readers to judge particular characters. Shelly has moved after her mother’s recent passing and it is evident that both she and Lauren, her daughter, are still very traumatised by seeing Shelly’s mother suffering from severe dementia. This is more prevalent because Valerie, Shelly’s new neighbour, is also declining into this state. She sympathises with Valerie’s son, especially when Valerie has “Jekyll and Hyde” tendencies, leaving Shelly particularly disturbed. Yet, I did not get a sense of this, feeling this aspect of the plot too convenient to distract readers. Furthermore, it felt like it was leaning towards the unrealistic, especially considering how much Valerie is clearly suffering from the disease. I would have expected social services or doctors to be more involved in Valerie’s treatment, especially when her safety is clearly a cause for concern.
The other wives are portrayed as quite glamourous, leaving Shelly constantly feeling like an outsider. I disliked this aspect of her personality, feeling like she always had to prove herself, and I was irritated by her need to please these new acquaintances. It didn’t feel like she was being true to herself and hid frequently behind her daughter or dog as an excuse, or consuming copious amounts of alcohol. On the other hand, I admired her grit and determination to ensure she and Lauren have a better quality of life, especially when it is revealed how difficult things became with Shelly’s mother.
I was curious to see how this story would conclude but I was disappointed how obvious this ending became. There were certainly some tense moments but I thought this was a long time coming. Instead, the majority of the book felt like a character assassination of new acquaintances, with the protagonist coming across a bit patronising as a result.
With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It appears that Shelly has landed on her feet with her new rental property. The greenery of Beech Close is idyllic, the identical homes look charming and the neighbours are, well, rather friendly. Even Shelly sees the irony that the women are more like 'Desperate Housewives' than they realise, and I think this was one of the reasons why Shelly tries to maintain a bit of a distance – coupled with the fact that she is a single mother too.
However, despite trying to keep away from her new neighbours (which I wasn’t quite convinced was the right thing to do), events unfold that leave Shelly questioning their personalities. The previous tenant of her home has been reported missing, her immediate neighbour seems to want to terrorise her, and the saccharine nature of the neighbourhood seems too good to be true. Shelly can’t help but ask questions, especially when she uncovers a disturbing message inside her house. What really happened to Danielle? Are her new neighbours what they seem?
Rogers is very keen for readers to judge particular characters. Shelly has moved after her mother’s recent passing and it is evident that both she and Lauren, her daughter, are still very traumatised by seeing Shelly’s mother suffering from severe dementia. This is more prevalent because Valerie, Shelly’s new neighbour, is also declining into this state. She sympathises with Valerie’s son, especially when Valerie has “Jekyll and Hyde” tendencies, leaving Shelly particularly disturbed. Yet, I did not get a sense of this, feeling this aspect of the plot too convenient to distract readers. Furthermore, it felt like it was leaning towards the unrealistic, especially considering how much Valerie is clearly suffering from the disease. I would have expected social services or doctors to be more involved in Valerie’s treatment, especially when her safety is clearly a cause for concern.
The other wives are portrayed as quite glamourous, leaving Shelly constantly feeling like an outsider. I disliked this aspect of her personality, feeling like she always had to prove herself, and I was irritated by her need to please these new acquaintances. It didn’t feel like she was being true to herself and hid frequently behind her daughter or dog as an excuse, or consuming copious amounts of alcohol. On the other hand, I admired her grit and determination to ensure she and Lauren have a better quality of life, especially when it is revealed how difficult things became with Shelly’s mother.
I was curious to see how this story would conclude but I was disappointed how obvious this ending became. There were certainly some tense moments but I thought this was a long time coming. Instead, the majority of the book felt like a character assassination of new acquaintances, with the protagonist coming across a bit patronising as a result.
With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 5, 2023
What an ending!!!! This book was fast paced. Pulled me right in to all the drama and mystery going on. Well written with great chapter lengths. Characters that you loved, and love to hate or maybe just feel a little sorry for.
Be sure to pick this one up!
Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.
Be sure to pick this one up!
Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.
January 3, 2023
Crikey! Who'd want to live in Beech Close? With neighbours like a cross between "desperate housewives" and "the Stepford wives"? They were a mad bunch...the lot of them! But aside from that, THE NEIGHBOUR is filled with tension and intrigue with a sense of spookiness that gives you the chills.
Shelly and her 10 year old daughter Lauren are in need of a fresh start after having cared for her own mother in the final years of her life, battling dementia. Selling the cottage which was filled with unwelcome memories, they packed up and moved to the idyllic location of number 3 Beech Close...or so they thought. The move was meant to bring healing to enable them to move on but they had barely unpacked the first box when Shelly had an unpleasant run-in with her immediate neighbour, Valerie. The next thing she knows she finds an unwelcome gift shoved through the letterbox and a half eaten chocolate bar in the backyard, which had likely caused their dog Teddy to be sick overnight. Valerie, it seems, has taken an instant dislike to Teddy who is a dear sweet dog. But the strange occurrences don't end there.
When her best friend Josh finds a box of belongings in the loft, Shelly tries to find the previous tenant to return them to her. But hits a brick wall. And then she discovers that Danielle, the previous tenant and school teacher, had lost her dog just three days before she herself disappeared. Trying to find out what happened, she's told that Danielle fled Beech Close to the sunny climes of Egypt as soon as term ended. But why would she leave when she had been searching for her beloved dog? According to her friend, Mark, she would never have left without him. Shelly tries to ask the neighbours but no one seems forthcoming with answers and she begins to wonder if everyone else knows what happened to Danielle except her. So what exactly happened to Danielle?
Shelly's attention is somewhat sidetracked when she meets Remy, Valerie's son, who spends much of his time there caring for his mother who has dementia. She is at once sympathetic having just spent that last few years caring for her own parent with the dreaded disease, and she offers Remy a friendly shoulder. But Shelly instead finds herself attracted to Remy, as it's been a long time between drinks for her. Then as the story proceeds Remy's behaviour begins to leave question marks also. What is it with this place?
Shelly gets a strange vibe emanating from Beech Close and she wonders if it's all it's cracked up to be. Everyone appears to have secrets and not all of them the average kind either. And her dipping her toes into the murky waters of Danielle's disappearance begins to lead her into dangerous territory. Are she and Lauren safe in Beech Close? Or has she gotten too close for someone's comfort?
THE NEIGHBOUR is a fast paced engrossing page-turner that, while a tad far-fetched in reality, on page it's a compelling tale. There is an air of creepiness surrounding the little cul-de-sac of Beech Close that will leave you with a feeling of unease.
This is my first read by Gemma Rogers and I thoroughly enjoyed it but my favourite was that ending. While I had tied most of the pieces together, even down to that final confirmation at the end, it was the innocence in which those final words were delivered that just packed a punch.
And can I just give a shout out to my favourite character in the book? Which was undoubtedly Teddy the dog. Thank goodness no harm came to him...or any other dog in the story.
I would like to thank #GemmaRogers, #Netgalley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources#TheNeighbour in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Shelly and her 10 year old daughter Lauren are in need of a fresh start after having cared for her own mother in the final years of her life, battling dementia. Selling the cottage which was filled with unwelcome memories, they packed up and moved to the idyllic location of number 3 Beech Close...or so they thought. The move was meant to bring healing to enable them to move on but they had barely unpacked the first box when Shelly had an unpleasant run-in with her immediate neighbour, Valerie. The next thing she knows she finds an unwelcome gift shoved through the letterbox and a half eaten chocolate bar in the backyard, which had likely caused their dog Teddy to be sick overnight. Valerie, it seems, has taken an instant dislike to Teddy who is a dear sweet dog. But the strange occurrences don't end there.
When her best friend Josh finds a box of belongings in the loft, Shelly tries to find the previous tenant to return them to her. But hits a brick wall. And then she discovers that Danielle, the previous tenant and school teacher, had lost her dog just three days before she herself disappeared. Trying to find out what happened, she's told that Danielle fled Beech Close to the sunny climes of Egypt as soon as term ended. But why would she leave when she had been searching for her beloved dog? According to her friend, Mark, she would never have left without him. Shelly tries to ask the neighbours but no one seems forthcoming with answers and she begins to wonder if everyone else knows what happened to Danielle except her. So what exactly happened to Danielle?
Shelly's attention is somewhat sidetracked when she meets Remy, Valerie's son, who spends much of his time there caring for his mother who has dementia. She is at once sympathetic having just spent that last few years caring for her own parent with the dreaded disease, and she offers Remy a friendly shoulder. But Shelly instead finds herself attracted to Remy, as it's been a long time between drinks for her. Then as the story proceeds Remy's behaviour begins to leave question marks also. What is it with this place?
Shelly gets a strange vibe emanating from Beech Close and she wonders if it's all it's cracked up to be. Everyone appears to have secrets and not all of them the average kind either. And her dipping her toes into the murky waters of Danielle's disappearance begins to lead her into dangerous territory. Are she and Lauren safe in Beech Close? Or has she gotten too close for someone's comfort?
THE NEIGHBOUR is a fast paced engrossing page-turner that, while a tad far-fetched in reality, on page it's a compelling tale. There is an air of creepiness surrounding the little cul-de-sac of Beech Close that will leave you with a feeling of unease.
This is my first read by Gemma Rogers and I thoroughly enjoyed it but my favourite was that ending. While I had tied most of the pieces together, even down to that final confirmation at the end, it was the innocence in which those final words were delivered that just packed a punch.
And can I just give a shout out to my favourite character in the book? Which was undoubtedly Teddy the dog. Thank goodness no harm came to him...or any other dog in the story.
I would like to thank #GemmaRogers, #Netgalley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources#TheNeighbour in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
December 17, 2022
Shelley and her daughter Lauren have finally moved away from her mother's cottage after a crazy last couple of years. They are hoping that this small community will be their new fresh start as for the past couple of years Shelley was the caretaker for her mother who had dementia. The thing though is that she gets off with her next-door neighbour on the wrong foot as it turns out she isn't exactly warm to her dog Teddy and soon crazy things start happening to cause both PTSD reactions for Shelley and especially her daughter Lauren. When cleaning out the attic, Shelley's friend Josh finds a box of belongings from the previous tenant. Why would she leave this here? To return them, Shelley starts digging and soon finds out that the previous tenant Danielle is missing and it looks like someone is trying to be clever to cover it up and make it look like she went travelling. This perfect neighbourhood isn't quite perfect as strange things are happening behind closed doors, from next-door neighbour Valerie who has dementia herself, and her son Remy - who likes it rough and then Dennis who is a pervy old man and if Shelley isn't careful and keeps digging around trying to get to the bottom of what happened to Danielle, she might just end up like her and her daughter be raised without a mother. Can Shelley and Lauren escape the close-knit community of Beech Close alive or will they be forever living in the neighbourhood from hell, having to watch their every move as they discover they can't trust anyone if they want to survive.
May 30, 2023
Audiobook. 3.5 rounded up.
Attributes I liked:
--fast-paced, great setting, amateur sleuthing fun, authentic character depictions (particularly regarding someone with dementia), good-enough twist, ever-growing suspense, excellent sidekick, dog-love, absolutely nothing OTT about it--which I truly appreciate.
Not so much:
--far too much quotidian detail about food and shopping (did we need to be in IKEA for so long?) and using the bathroom and OMG if she took Teddy out for a wee one more time I was going to DNF!!
--the narrator's unbridled enthusiasm annoyed me.
Attributes I liked:
--fast-paced, great setting, amateur sleuthing fun, authentic character depictions (particularly regarding someone with dementia), good-enough twist, ever-growing suspense, excellent sidekick, dog-love, absolutely nothing OTT about it--which I truly appreciate.
Not so much:
--far too much quotidian detail about food and shopping (did we need to be in IKEA for so long?) and using the bathroom and OMG if she took Teddy out for a wee one more time I was going to DNF!!
--the narrator's unbridled enthusiasm annoyed me.
January 5, 2023
- Short chapters
- Slow burn neighbourhood suspense
- Well detailed characters
- Heavy focus on the MC childhood trauma and her mother's illness
- Intriguing but plausible storyline
- Last line of the epilogue came as a surprise
There are a few trigger warnings on this one. Please ensure you look them up before diving in
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advanced copy
- Slow burn neighbourhood suspense
- Well detailed characters
- Heavy focus on the MC childhood trauma and her mother's illness
- Intriguing but plausible storyline
- Last line of the epilogue came as a surprise
There are a few trigger warnings on this one. Please ensure you look them up before diving in
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advanced copy
January 5, 2023
Shelly and Lauren are so excited for the past few years since Lauren was a tiny girl they’ve been taking care of her grandma who is suffering from dementia and would act in scary ways. She has since passed away and Shelly has found a cute cottage in a place called Beach close. There’s only a few houses on the street and she is excited to start a new peaceful life with her daughter and their dog Teddy. While moving in her dog Teddy gets out and go straight to the neighbors yard to use the bathroom, Shelley doesn’t have any bags in her pockets so she gets the dog to bring him back home and retrieve a bag.Before she could do that though the neighbors outside reprimanding Shelly and acting like a crazy person no matter how much she apologizes the woman blows her off like she was lying about coming back. Although Shelley is shaken up she does her best to Forget about it . This will not be the only crazy incident with her new neighbor Valerie. To make things even worse one of her neighbors Nyim invites her over for a welcome to the close party and she wasn’t going to go but her best friend Josh was over setting up furniture for her When Nyim knocked on the door. She wanted to make sure she was coming and Josh confirmed “yes, she’ll be there in an hour.”. This is where she finds out that the rude woman next-door Valerie has a good looking son named Remi. Shelley can’t help but notice the swirling nervousness she feels upon meeting him but because she is just starting her new life she tries her best to ignore it. When her and Lauren go to walk their dog Teddy they notice a missing dog sign and like any pet owner feels bad and hopes they found their dog. Later on that night when Shelley is sitting back and relaxing she starts hearing strange noises and turns around only to see a gas leak ghostly face in the window. She looks out her door only to see it’s Valerie again soon her son Remi comes over to apologize and explain to her yet again that his mom has dementia, but shelli isn’t so certain. It seemed this time when he apologized and she made him a drink that they shared a real moment as if he felt something similar to what she felt when around him. When he leaves she goes through the box of stuff that her best friend Josh got out of the loft that was left by the last tenant. With the Momentos she left behind and the strange carving in the pantry upstairs saying leave now and the strange behavior of Valerie she feels like something is definitely up with her neighbor but eventually it won’t just be Valerie that seems strange to her, well asking questions about the last tenant in danger her life and if it does will she find out before it’s too late? I know this isn’t tn the best summary at all especially since this book had my heart palpitation until it was over because it goes from one heart pounding scene to another. This book was so good it was OMG good and no eye rolling involved. They have no moments where y’all like that couldn’t happen because throughout the whole book the plot is plausible and thrilling! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. I received the book from net Gally and BoldwoodBooks but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
January 27, 2023
The narrator’s voice was so annoying and too dramatic at times. Shelly was way to vested in Danielle’s disappearance but the book never made us understand why we should care. Nothing was compelling or intriguing about the supposed mystery. I didn’t are about what actually happened. Her sleuthing was boring and came across as just obsessive. Shelly’s relationship with Remy was odd and blah….she was too weird and prudish.
April 11, 2023
I just love this book. Shelly such a loveable character. And Lauren a very grown up 11 year old
Was faced paced for me. Enjoyed every bit of this book
Look forward to reading more of this authors books
Was faced paced for me. Enjoyed every bit of this book
Look forward to reading more of this authors books
February 6, 2023
I loved this read! Although a bit slow at first, it became suspenseful with a trust no one theme. Overall very well written.
May 14, 2023
Good fast read
January 13, 2023
I have been a fan of Gemma’s work ever since I had the good fortune to pick up a copy of her first book, which is called ‘Stalker’, back in 2019. Since then I have read and loved each and every book that she has written. Gemma’s most recent release is called ‘The Neighbour’ and it was released on 5th January 2023. It’s another cracker of a read, which I Thoroughly enjoyed reading but more about that in a bit.
I was drawn into this book from the synopsis and when I started reading the story properly that was it and I was away as the saying goes. To say that reading ‘The Neighbour’ became addictive is a bit like me saying that I like eating cake- in other words a massive understatement. I would pick the book up only intending to read a chapter or two but I would become so wrapped up in the story that I would read more like 6 chapters in one go. If I had to put the book to one side for any reason then I would immediately look forward to being able to pick the book up again. I developed my own theories as to what was going to happen and of course I had to keep reading to see if I was on the right track or if I had wandered off in the opposite direction. The pages turned increasingly quickly as I worked my way through the book. All too quickly I reached the end of ‘The Neighbour’. I found ‘The Neighbour’ to be a gritty and gripping read, which certainly kept me guessing and kept me on the edge of my seat.
‘The Neighbour’ is extremely well written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Gemma. Gemma certainly knows how to grab the reader’s attention and draw them into what proves to be one hell of a story. For me, this was more of a slow burn type of story- it started slowly but as time went on, the story gathered pace and momentum and the tension levels increased before concluding in a tense and dramatic fashion. Gemma describes her characters so well that they seem as real as you and I. I was so convinced by them that I began to compare them to people that I know. Reading ‘The Neighbour’ felt like being on an at times scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. I love the way in which the author makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘The Neighbour’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Gemma’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
I was drawn into this book from the synopsis and when I started reading the story properly that was it and I was away as the saying goes. To say that reading ‘The Neighbour’ became addictive is a bit like me saying that I like eating cake- in other words a massive understatement. I would pick the book up only intending to read a chapter or two but I would become so wrapped up in the story that I would read more like 6 chapters in one go. If I had to put the book to one side for any reason then I would immediately look forward to being able to pick the book up again. I developed my own theories as to what was going to happen and of course I had to keep reading to see if I was on the right track or if I had wandered off in the opposite direction. The pages turned increasingly quickly as I worked my way through the book. All too quickly I reached the end of ‘The Neighbour’. I found ‘The Neighbour’ to be a gritty and gripping read, which certainly kept me guessing and kept me on the edge of my seat.
‘The Neighbour’ is extremely well written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Gemma. Gemma certainly knows how to grab the reader’s attention and draw them into what proves to be one hell of a story. For me, this was more of a slow burn type of story- it started slowly but as time went on, the story gathered pace and momentum and the tension levels increased before concluding in a tense and dramatic fashion. Gemma describes her characters so well that they seem as real as you and I. I was so convinced by them that I began to compare them to people that I know. Reading ‘The Neighbour’ felt like being on an at times scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. I love the way in which the author makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘The Neighbour’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Gemma’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
January 8, 2023
Shelly, a single mother, has just moved into a rental home along with her daughter, Lauren, 10, and their dog, Teddy. Shelly had been caring for her mother for 2 years before she passed away. Now, she has sold her mother’s cottage and is happy to be away from it, especially as the woman had abused her as a child..
Most of the neighbors are nice, except for an elderly woman next door, Valerie, who has dementia. She seems to dislike Shelly on sight. Her son apologizes for his mother explaining her illness which Shelly certainly understands.
When she learns that the tenant in her home before her disappeared, Shelly becomes quite concerned and can’t help but feel that something about the house isn’t right.
This story shows a woman who is not very comfortable with others but the neighbors all like to get together and eat and drink. But, Shelly does her best to join in.
There are lots of twists and I wondered if the house she had rented was haunted. But the dementia-ridden Valerie is really scary and I wouldn’t want to live next door to her. The good things I saw was a devoted mother who adored Lauren and did everything she could to protect her and give her her undivided attention. The characters of Josh and his mother, Joyce, were terrific. Two wonderful people for her have in her life.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Most of the neighbors are nice, except for an elderly woman next door, Valerie, who has dementia. She seems to dislike Shelly on sight. Her son apologizes for his mother explaining her illness which Shelly certainly understands.
When she learns that the tenant in her home before her disappeared, Shelly becomes quite concerned and can’t help but feel that something about the house isn’t right.
This story shows a woman who is not very comfortable with others but the neighbors all like to get together and eat and drink. But, Shelly does her best to join in.
There are lots of twists and I wondered if the house she had rented was haunted. But the dementia-ridden Valerie is really scary and I wouldn’t want to live next door to her. The good things I saw was a devoted mother who adored Lauren and did everything she could to protect her and give her her undivided attention. The characters of Josh and his mother, Joyce, were terrific. Two wonderful people for her have in her life.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
January 6, 2023
2.5 stars rounded up.
This book had an interesting premise. Shelly and her daughter Lauren move into a new neighborhood after spending years taking care of Shelly's mother who was battling dementia. Shelly's mother passes away and Shelly inherits her house and all the money she squirreled away. Shelly quickly puts the house on the market and her she is excited to live somewhere with nice and friendly neighbors. The move seems more like an excape because we get hints that not-so-great things happened with Grandma.
After a few days in the new place, her new neighbors seem to be a little odd. Especially her next door neighbor, Valerie, who yells at her (and her dog!) any chance she gets. Plus, Shelly discovers the previous tenant went missing and she goes digging to uncover the mystery.
My biggest issue with this book (and frankly, some other books I've read recently) is that it feels like it checks the boxes of the genre (this one being suspense, murder, creepy neighbors, twist ending) but it missed the mark for me. The character development was lacking —the neighbors were portrayed as creepy but I never got chills from them. Shelly did not feel like a fully formed character. The book was slow going and by the time we finally got to some action at the 88% mark, I was still pretty bored. I think the last line of the book was intended to be shocking, but I feel like the so-called twist was already revealed.
Thank you Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC for my honest review.
This book had an interesting premise. Shelly and her daughter Lauren move into a new neighborhood after spending years taking care of Shelly's mother who was battling dementia. Shelly's mother passes away and Shelly inherits her house and all the money she squirreled away. Shelly quickly puts the house on the market and her she is excited to live somewhere with nice and friendly neighbors. The move seems more like an excape because we get hints that not-so-great things happened with Grandma.
After a few days in the new place, her new neighbors seem to be a little odd. Especially her next door neighbor, Valerie, who yells at her (and her dog!) any chance she gets. Plus, Shelly discovers the previous tenant went missing and she goes digging to uncover the mystery.
My biggest issue with this book (and frankly, some other books I've read recently) is that it feels like it checks the boxes of the genre (this one being suspense, murder, creepy neighbors, twist ending) but it missed the mark for me. The character development was lacking —the neighbors were portrayed as creepy but I never got chills from them. Shelly did not feel like a fully formed character. The book was slow going and by the time we finally got to some action at the 88% mark, I was still pretty bored. I think the last line of the book was intended to be shocking, but I feel like the so-called twist was already revealed.
Thank you Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC for my honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2022
It's not the first book by Gemma that I've read and I doubt this will be my last. Gemmas books keep you gripped and wanting to know more.
The Neighbour is a good read, it was quite a quick read which was fast paced and I really wanted to know what had happened.
I really warmed to Shelley and Lauren, not to forget little Teddy the dog.
An all round good read ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
The Neighbour is a good read, it was quite a quick read which was fast paced and I really wanted to know what had happened.
I really warmed to Shelley and Lauren, not to forget little Teddy the dog.
An all round good read ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
December 26, 2022
Wowza! The Neighbour by Gemma Rogers is a gripping, riveting, engrossing, spine-chilling and mind-blowing psychological thriller. If you are adding this book to your TBR (you better!!), be ready for one heck of a roller coaster ride. Don't get me started on the twists and the creepiness this story brings about.
Where do I start? This story blew my mind. I was like, wow! I didn't see this twist coming. Shelly had a tough childhood and soon after Lauren's birth, her husband walked away. Her mother was overly controlling and nasty, and to move back to her mother's house and look after her (after dementia diagnosis) wasn't an easy task. After her mother's death, Shelly moves away from the house for good. But she didn't expect to run into another dark house - the one in which the walls hide secrets... secrets of its previous occupant.
As the story proceeds, we see Shelly falling for a handsome neighbour but that relationship is nothing but toxic. Thank god, she pushed it away before it could harm her! But, her curiosity to learn more about the previous occupant's disappearance led her to danger.
I absolutely loved the storytelling. The characters are well-portrayed and the mystery keeps one guessing till the end. Twists and turns are plenty. I had this weird feeling that nothing's right at Beech Close and Shelly had dipped her toes into murky waters... You know, the kind of feeling where you are torn between curiosity and wanting to warn the protagonist about impending doom.
If you are looking for a unique, gripping and engrossing page-turner, you might want to give The Neighbour by Gemma Rogers a try. Believe me when I say you will not see the twisted and shocking revelation (at the end) coming.
Where do I start? This story blew my mind. I was like, wow! I didn't see this twist coming. Shelly had a tough childhood and soon after Lauren's birth, her husband walked away. Her mother was overly controlling and nasty, and to move back to her mother's house and look after her (after dementia diagnosis) wasn't an easy task. After her mother's death, Shelly moves away from the house for good. But she didn't expect to run into another dark house - the one in which the walls hide secrets... secrets of its previous occupant.
As the story proceeds, we see Shelly falling for a handsome neighbour but that relationship is nothing but toxic. Thank god, she pushed it away before it could harm her! But, her curiosity to learn more about the previous occupant's disappearance led her to danger.
I absolutely loved the storytelling. The characters are well-portrayed and the mystery keeps one guessing till the end. Twists and turns are plenty. I had this weird feeling that nothing's right at Beech Close and Shelly had dipped her toes into murky waters... You know, the kind of feeling where you are torn between curiosity and wanting to warn the protagonist about impending doom.
If you are looking for a unique, gripping and engrossing page-turner, you might want to give The Neighbour by Gemma Rogers a try. Believe me when I say you will not see the twisted and shocking revelation (at the end) coming.
July 7, 2024
Shelly and her 10 year old daughter are looking for a fresh start after Shelly’s mom passed away after suffering from dementia.
Renting a home in Beech Close, Shelly feels there is something a little off with the other neighbors. They seem a little too eager to get to know her. Except for Remy’s mom who is supposedly also suffering from dementia. Bizarrely she yells at Shelly “you’re dead! Leave me alone” and “leave my son alone, he’s mine!”Then there’s the scratching inside a cupboard that says “Leave now!” Shelly’s gut is telling her something dark has happened in this neighbor.
As Shelly is working hard to make the rental a home for her and her daughter she finds a box of personal items that belongs to someone named Danielle. As Shelly tries to find out about the renter before her, she learns it was a young woman named Danielle who disappeared.
As Shelly looks for answers, she begins to look at her neighbors suspiciously. One of them has sinister intentions. Will they hurt Shelly as she closes in on the answers? Or does Shelly decide to leave well enough alone for the sake of her daughter?
I have yet to read a thriller from Rogers that I don’t absolutely consume! This was wonderful to listen to!
Renting a home in Beech Close, Shelly feels there is something a little off with the other neighbors. They seem a little too eager to get to know her. Except for Remy’s mom who is supposedly also suffering from dementia. Bizarrely she yells at Shelly “you’re dead! Leave me alone” and “leave my son alone, he’s mine!”Then there’s the scratching inside a cupboard that says “Leave now!” Shelly’s gut is telling her something dark has happened in this neighbor.
As Shelly is working hard to make the rental a home for her and her daughter she finds a box of personal items that belongs to someone named Danielle. As Shelly tries to find out about the renter before her, she learns it was a young woman named Danielle who disappeared.
As Shelly looks for answers, she begins to look at her neighbors suspiciously. One of them has sinister intentions. Will they hurt Shelly as she closes in on the answers? Or does Shelly decide to leave well enough alone for the sake of her daughter?
I have yet to read a thriller from Rogers that I don’t absolutely consume! This was wonderful to listen to!
December 23, 2022
Having cared for her mother over the last couple of years, Shelley is keen to move away from her childhood home. It holds unpleasant childhood memories, and Shelley is determined that her young daughter gets to live as normal a life as possible. When she secures a 6-month tenancy in a quiet could-de-sac she is convinced things are looking up.
Unfortunately, the new neighbours are not what she expected.
From the moment she arrives, Shelley feels there is something odd about the place. She tries to put a brave face on, but when she starts asking questions about the young girl who used to live there it becomes all too apparent that something happened.
While the reality of the story was highly improbable, the execution of it plays out well enough. We suspect our narrator of unearthing something big…and it is.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this before publication.
Unfortunately, the new neighbours are not what she expected.
From the moment she arrives, Shelley feels there is something odd about the place. She tries to put a brave face on, but when she starts asking questions about the young girl who used to live there it becomes all too apparent that something happened.
While the reality of the story was highly improbable, the execution of it plays out well enough. We suspect our narrator of unearthing something big…and it is.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this before publication.
January 18, 2023
Twisted.....................
If you are looking for a thrilling ride this year, then grab a copy of the book. The author, definitely, does not disappoint you. An engrossing plot with some secretive characters is just the thing for thriller lovers. Also, the author gives you an insight of Dementia and how it affects families which was a different experience for me. The characters are just fabulous. You need not to wait for something to happen, as with every page there are lots of twists and turns. So, be ready for a thrilling ride with the book.
Definitely, 5 stars for the book. Thanks to Netgalley and Rachels Random Resources for providing me an opportunity to be a part of the blog tour.
Read more on https://bibliophileverse.blogspot.com...
If you are looking for a thrilling ride this year, then grab a copy of the book. The author, definitely, does not disappoint you. An engrossing plot with some secretive characters is just the thing for thriller lovers. Also, the author gives you an insight of Dementia and how it affects families which was a different experience for me. The characters are just fabulous. You need not to wait for something to happen, as with every page there are lots of twists and turns. So, be ready for a thrilling ride with the book.
Definitely, 5 stars for the book. Thanks to Netgalley and Rachels Random Resources for providing me an opportunity to be a part of the blog tour.
Read more on https://bibliophileverse.blogspot.com...
May 19, 2024
This was such a fast paced read! I read it in one night and I have to say I really enjoyed it. The book was gripping and I could not put this book down.
I adored the main character, Shelly and her daughter Lauren. They move into a new housing estate after she sadly lost her mother to dementia. Shelly realises that there is something not quite right about the neighbour hood, are the people hiding something? Was it her imagination? She begins to do her research on the former person who lived in the house as she remained anonymous. Turns out the previous tenant is missing and so is her dog! Do the neighbours no more than meets the eye? Or does she usually do this and runs off?
I couldn’t stop reading I had to find out!
4 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I adored the main character, Shelly and her daughter Lauren. They move into a new housing estate after she sadly lost her mother to dementia. Shelly realises that there is something not quite right about the neighbour hood, are the people hiding something? Was it her imagination? She begins to do her research on the former person who lived in the house as she remained anonymous. Turns out the previous tenant is missing and so is her dog! Do the neighbours no more than meets the eye? Or does she usually do this and runs off?
I couldn’t stop reading I had to find out!
4 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 18, 2023
Struggled with the audio narration on this it was very cringe and the intonation very cringey
Shelly and her daughter move into beech close and very soon the neighbours are over friendly
Soon enough cracks start showing and she has many questions about where the previous tenant of her home has vanished. Nothing is as it seems
This wasn’t edge of your seat stuff and the shocking narration was distracting but I was interested to see how it played out. With different narration I may have marked it a 4
Shelly and her daughter move into beech close and very soon the neighbours are over friendly
Soon enough cracks start showing and she has many questions about where the previous tenant of her home has vanished. Nothing is as it seems
This wasn’t edge of your seat stuff and the shocking narration was distracting but I was interested to see how it played out. With different narration I may have marked it a 4
November 29, 2022
I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a fun light thriller. The main character is likable, the story keeps your interest with the weirdness that goes on, and a little touch of spiciness! However, the plot feels a little weak. Everything was just explained at the end rather than play out further.
The writing was good, a quick, interesting easy read. I would definitely read more of Gemma's titles.
Thank you NetGalley, publisher, and author for the RAC.
The writing was good, a quick, interesting easy read. I would definitely read more of Gemma's titles.
Thank you NetGalley, publisher, and author for the RAC.
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