Book Review - Poison by Jacqui Rose - #HolidayReading Mexico - Blog Tour

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Title: Poison

Author: Jacqui Rose

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: 20th February 2020

Rating: 5 Stars

THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE YOU SHOULD NEVER CROSS

In a life of crime, loyalty means everything – even if you don’t always see eye to eye. But when Vaughn Sadler speaks up to get Franny Doyle sent down, he’s broken every rule in the book to win checkmate.

AND OTHERS YOU SHOULDN’T UNDERESTIMATE…

Holed up in prison, Franny has more than one score to settle – but she’s starting with Vaughn. Because you don’t grass on your own, no matter what. And though she may be behind bars, she will get revenge – whatever the cost.

Before, there was just bad blood running through her veins. But now, there is poison…

Once again I was drawn straight back into the lives of Franny, Vaughn and Alfie, and I just couldn't get enough of them.  I'm already keen to read the next book!

Completely addictive I could barely put the book down, as I tried to second guess what may happen or not. 

With new equally despicable characters introduced there is a lot to take in,  but once you have the basics sorted in your mind,  it's a real fast paced page turner. 

Set in London's seedy underbelly, there is plenty touched on that would make your stomach curl.  At times disgusting, at others graphic I can't seem to get enough of these characters and of Jacqui Rose's writing.

I'm never entirely positive that I enjoy the content of these books but there is just something about them which means they can't be unread on my kindle for long.  I'm definitely hooked on these rather criminal and dodgy people,  even if I can't really understand why.

Although this could be read as a standalone, you potentially would gain more from reading some of the authors previous books as they all appear to be connected.

What a fabulous book to have whiled away the first couple of hours of a long haul flight with.

Thank you to Avon on Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Please do follow along with the other blogs on the tour for this great book

Book Review - Sinner by Jacqui Rose

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Amazon UK

Title: Sinner

Author: Jacqui Rose

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: 13th June 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

Having been brought up amongst the hardest gangsters and faces of London, Franny Doyle learnt never to let love be her weakness. But she’ll do anything to protect those close to her, and at whatever cost.

Her partner Alfie Jennings is under pressure. The only person he ever sent down has recently been released from prison, and his Soho nightclub is under threat from his rival Charlie Eton – a man who doesn’t respond kindly to people taking away his business.

Charlie is playing dirty to come out on top, and when innocent children become involved in the feud, Franny and Alfie are dragged into a dark underworld where Alfie must face demons from his past, and Franny is in a dangerous race against time to ensure her own secrets aren’t exposed.

Betrayal and lies come with consequences, and old sins cast long shadows…
The heart-racing new thriller perfect for fans of Kimberley Chambers and Martina Cole.

This is now the third book I've read by Jacqui Rose, and I'm still not 100% positive I like them.   I mean they have far too much violence, and unpleasant subject matter in them, the body counts seem very high, but yet every time I pick up one of these books I find I am racing through it completely hooked. 

I'm completely and utterly addicted to this author's version of London, the dark seedy underbelly where the most notorious of crime and gangster families are working side by side, sometimes more peacefully than others.  Where everyone seems to either know everyone else, or is related to them. 

In fact I would love to see some sort of family tree for all these characters as it really is mind blowing to try to keep track of. 

Sinner focuses on Alfie Jennings and Franny Doyle and continues on a few months later from Fatal.  I found it really easy to get back into the story and the familiar characters and their stories came back to me reasonably fast.  

The amount of action in this book is staggering, and we get to know so much more about Alfie and Franny and learning that they both have a slightly different side to them is very good to know. 

Yet a large amount of the actual subject matter with the crimes is really uncomfortable to read.   I'm not really sure I could ever say that I enjoyed a book that deals with horrific subject matters, but I can completely appreciate just how talented a writer Jacqui Rose is - for keeping me coming back for more and more, leaving me already knowing that the wait for the next one is too long.   

I was completely hooked on this and I do love a fast quick paced thriller, and this did far more than just hold my attention throughout. Very impressive book. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily, 

Book Review - Fatal by Jacqui Rose

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Amazon UK

Title:  Fatal

Author: Jacqui Rose

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: 10th January 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

Dying is easy. It’s living that’s hard…
‘Gritty and gripping’ Kimberley Chambers

An eye for an eye.
Cabhan Morton wants to leave the Russo crime family for good and live in peace with his daughter, Alice Rose. But the Russos won’t let him walk away without a fight.

A tooth for a tooth.
Franny Doyle would do anything for Cabhan and Alice, but helping them escape the vindictive Russo brothers won’t be easy. The only place they’ll be safe is back in Essex with Alfie Jennings.

A daughter for a daughter…
Franny knows she won’t be welcomed by Alfie with open arms – but she doesn’t have a choice. The Russos are out for blood and they won’t stop until Alice is dead…

The heart-racing new thriller perfect for fans of Kimberley Chambers and Martina Cole.

After finishing Toxic, I was eager to find out more about Franny and just why she appeared to betray Alfie, so the second I had an opportunity to read Fatal, I took it, as I got to see elements of Toxic from another point of view - while setting up another action packed story in its own right. 

In fact its only after finishing Fatal, that I've just glanced at some of the other blurbs of books by Jacqui Rose and realised that all the books and characters are all inter-related, which if that carries on being the case may mean I am now a complete fan of the author, as I am already curious to see what happens to some of the main players next. 

I found I liked the characters a lot more this time, possibly as I already was following the connections between them a bit more, and although they are gangsters they are people too, and they really did feel a lot more human this time. 

Alice Rose, its 16, and due to the way she has been brought up, has a very strong belief in God, and can quote the bible - normally that is something that would have me running for the hills but as the book progressed and she grew into the new life that was being thrust upon her, she really grows, and I have to admire her guts. 

The pace is relentless, its frenetic and there is always something going on, the perspective being changed, and although there is a large amount of characters, I was able to keep up reasonably well with the various threads. 

There is something just utterly addictive about this book, and I couldn't stop turning the pages, and my adrenaline was still pumping from the action after I turned the last pages.  

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily, 

Book Review - Toxic by Jacqui Rose

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Amazon UK

Title: Toxic

Author: Jacqui Rose

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: 14th June 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

Sometimes love is toxic…
Bree Dwyer is desperate to escape her husband, take the children and run. But he’s always watching. And she always gets caught. Until her first love, Alfie Jennings, returns to Essex…

Gangsters Alfie and Vaughn have been out of the game for a while, but a life of crime is one you never forget.

To get back on top they need serious money, because loyalty and power don’t come for free. One dangerous job and they’ll have the payoff they need. And Alfie isn’t going to let anyone get in the way, least of all a pretty face like Bree.

It’s time to show Essex what they’re made of. And this time, Alfie and Vaughn aren’t backing down.

My adrenaline is pumping, and I'm sitting here utterly enthralled with how this book ended.  I'm normally one that stays away from  gangsters, as they really aren't my thing, but this particular group of lowlifes didn't half cause some drama. 

When I wasn't reading Toxic, my mind was on it, until I ended up curling up with most of the second half of the book to read and couldn't tear myself away. 

Yet for all of its compulsiveness, I only having read it just about know who all the characters are and how they were properly connected. On the whole I hated them all and Bree, well I felt a bit sorry for her, but still wasn't that keen on her.  

Normally I hate books where I don't like the characters but I can't put my finger on it but something kept me reading, and I had to know how it finished.    This is one fast paced book which is certainly what helped hold my interest with relatively short chapters, meaning I kept thinking, well one more chapter won't hurt!! 

There are many many characters in this and being from Essex gangland culture they are all intertwined, all know of each other, but no one really trusts anyone.   

From just how its been making me feel I can tell that Jacqui Rose is clearly a fabulous writer, anyone that grips me like this and has me riled up, has definitely got under my skin.  I just hope I don't have a sleepless night now as a result of all the violence in the book. 

I would love for there to be another book featuring these characters, as I can't help but feel their stories could go on for quite a while.  

Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily,