Excellent storyline. Wonderful main characters. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it highly.

I finished this over the weekend and had a throroughly good time with it. It wasn't too taxing on the brain which is ideal when you read to relax as I do. "The Affair" is a compelling psychological thriller and part of a three book deal Browne has with publisher Bookouture. Her previous book "The Babysitter" was also published by Bookouture in March 2018.

"The Affair" explores whether a lie can ever be told for the good of your family. Be prepared to question your morals whilst reading this book. The characterisation is great and the writing style worked well for me. I'm going to keep this short and sweet as this is a difficult book to review without giving away details that will spoil it for future readers. Let's just say that there are many twists and secrets and lies aplenty.

This was my first book from this author so I definitely need to try some of Browne's previous books having loved this thrill ride so much. The standout aspect of the book for me was the writing style - it was so readable and the style pulls you into the story and holds you there until the end!

Publication Date - 10th August 2018.

Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

How many things can go wrong in Justin's life? He is a dedicated husband, father and respected doctor. He was on the brink of a nervous breakdown after he walked into a crime scene at his parents home. His mother, father and sister were brutally murdered. Understandably he fell into a state of depression, finding it hard to function in daily life.

Then Justin meets with tragedy again. The unthinkable happens. You will get no spoilers here, so I will leave it unsaid, just know it is a big one. As he is trying to move through this latest life tragedy, he is comforted that he has his wife Alicia at his side. Or does he? It comes to light that Alicia has been having an affair. He begins to question if his daughter Sophie and son Luke are even his biological children.

Up until this point this seemed like a story of a family faced with many tragedies. Then the twists begins...Sophie disappears, did she leave on her own or did someone take her? The first few pages in the book had opened up with a person struggling with the decision to end someones life. Who is this person? Is the kind family man and doctor capable of killing someone? Even for revenge? The Affair ends with a bang and all your questions will be answered. You may be surprised as to what people are capable of when being put to the test.

Wow this book caught he a bit off guard. I was expecting a domestic thriller-which it ended up being in the second half, but the book touched on so many other subjects. Obviously, someone had an affair, hence the title of the book. It delves into the ways an affair can literally shatter the entire family dynamics. It takes you through the challenges that each spouse and child face in this situation. This book is about love, loss and the strength of a family put to the test.

Can we talk about this cover? This cover is fabulous. It is actually what initially drew me to this book. It defiantly has curb appeal. If you pay close attention towards the end of the book, you will grasp the importance of this cover. "The rose bush symbolizes immortal love, even through time or death." It will make sense to you after you read the book!

A big thank you to Sheryl Browne, Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC.

Sheryl Browne is an author whose work I will watch out for from now on! The Affair was, I believe, my frst book by her, but it won't be my last. It starts off with a bang and never quite lets up. The characters are multi-dimensional, the story gripping and emotional. Recommended!

This was an easy reading book. Between the title of the book and the first chapter I was a bit hesitant to read as I already knew someone had an affair and the first chapter tells you how the book will end. That being said I delved right in. I liked the characters and I liked the twists - who was lying who was telling the truth, but mostly how did everyone get to where they were at the time of the story. The story is about Alicia, Justin and Sophie. Alicia and Justin have been married for some time without their share of heartache and problems. Years ago Alicia had an affair (hence the book name) but never told Justin, although he was suspicious. Alicia just gave birth to their son Lucas but a tragedy cut his life short throwing the family into heartache. In the middle of their loss, in strolls Paul Radley, 16 years later to cause more issues between Alicia and Justin. Coincidentally, Sophie, is juts about to turn 16 herself.....and this is where the story gets really good. For me personally, I think the beginning of the book was a bit slow and repetitive, that's why I am giving a 3 start rating, otherwise, I did enjoy this book and would certainly recommend it.

I enjoyed reading this book and the storyline was good. Although I didn’t find it quite as tense as other thrillers that I have read. There were some twists but nothing I didn’t really see coming.

Loved this book, even when I was not reading it I kept thinking about it and couldn’t wait to pick it up again and I finished it in a day. Would definitely recommend to others and can’t wait to read other titles from this author.

Highly recommend!!

If a book is described as a “psychological thriller with a shocking twist” you bet I’m going to look twice! The Affair by Sheryl Browne is up next on my reading list.



Here’s what you need to know:

Alicia’s been telling lies. And now they’ve come back to haunt her. When an old colleague turns up at a party, Alicia comes face to face with the man who has the potential to ruin her perfect family life. He wouldn’t, would he?

In order to keep her secrets, Alicia has to tell yet more lies and when a devastating car accident makes the situation even more dangerous, it’s only a matter of time before everything falls apart. Can secrets really stay hidden forever?

Lies upon lies? That sounds like my novel, I Am Haven Blackmoore (I posted a few chapters recently on this blog). I especially like when the author is British and the story takes place in England, there’s just something about the way British authors write that I love.

This book is getting great reviews and I can’t wait to clear my schedule and spend the weekend reading!

This was a really really good book. Well developed characters and twists on twists!
I did find it a little slow moving in the middle but all in all this was a 4 Star read!!!!
The ending was awesome!!!!!

And love the cover!


Thank you to #NetGalley, the author and publisher for my free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Affair Sheryl Brown

I have to say I have read some mixed reviews of this book, it seems to divide people, and everybody is entitled to an opinion.

My Opinion?

It’s a great story

But it’s going to be hard to review it without giving anything away in the way of spoilers.

The story, a bit like life itself, is a like a domino rally. In this case one of those where two different dominos are tipped over in different strings, at the same time, and start a chain reaction that culminates in that final slab falling, with one hell of a bang.

The first domino in the first string. Alicia has been telling a lie for a while now. It’s not a malicious lie, more the type of lie that involves not telling your family about a piece of your past which is a bit murky.

But when somebody from that past turns up in the present, and has a malicious streak about them, then things start to go wrong.

More lies are told to try and cover up the past, and the tumbling dominos gather speed.

Alicia’s husband is shattered after finishing a long night shift at the hospital. Because she’s been distracted Alicia has forgot to fill her car with fuel, and when it doesn’t start her husband piles Alicia, and their two children, into the car to drop them off to work, school, and the child minders.

And so the first domino of the second string is toppled.

Together the two strings gather pace, weaving across each other until the traumatic culmination of the book.

This book really plays with the emotions, there are times when I empathised with the main character but hated her. There were other times when I hated what she was doing but loved her.

I really liked it.

Pages: 351
Publishers: Bookouture
Publishing date: 10th August 2018.

I gave this book 2 stars due the story line and characters. I didn't like the story line nor the characters, they fell flat and were fake.

Thank you Net Gallery and Bookouture anyways for the ARC for my honest review.

Cherie'

What can I say? This is my first book by Sheryl Browne, I read a lot of thrillers and the generic title of the book didn’t get me excited. I’m so happy I read this anyway! Honestly, this is one of the best thrillers, it leaves you completely emotionally involved! You may not like all the characters which is a talent for an author to have... but my best advice is to just go into this book blind! Don’t read reviews or spoilers, just read it now!

Wow! That’s all I can say! It started off a little slow, but it made up for it as it went along! Chilling at times and with some really tragic bits, you are taken on a rollercoaster of a journey! Is Alicia a lying adulterer? Is her sister Jess as kind and supportive as you first think? I can’t say any more for fear of spoiling it - but by far the best read of the year for me! Loved it!

‘The Affair’ by Sheryl Browne published by Bookoutre on Aug 13th

Hey, I imagine having such a fantastic response as this author did with ‘The Babysitter’ a bit like a number 1 in the ‘hit parade’ ( showing my age ) leaves you thinking ‘how do I replicate that’ and ‘will it be as good’.....well ‘The Affair’ manages to do that....I was almost worried to read it in case it didn’t....but the tension, drama and story telling is back in this emotive story....
It is ( without giving any plot away ) a very shocking story about a family that is wrecked ( in more ways than one ) by ‘an affair’...to say more would be giving things away, however I will say that the story starts with a big shock, BAM, in your face and it carries on from there until the very last sentence.....
The characters, although not all likeable, are strong and all too real and the ‘The Affair’ impacts these people in many ways and with deep consequences
I LOVED it, a great read, told in this authors special easy to read style that brings you in and keeps you there through, what is, a living nightmare.......
10/10 5 stars

What happens when you are caught out in a lie? It’s like a runaway train gathering speed! Have you ever heard of the fable about the boy who cried wolf? Nobody believes a liar so watch what you say. You could be found out. Sometimes lies come back to haunt you and this is what this novel is about. How far would you go to save yourself and your family?
The prologue really gripped me as I read about some anonymous person debating whether or not they could or would commit murder. It was a reasoned written soliloquy; a mental contemplation and I suspected from the very start that this novel would continue to ask questions and that perhaps some of them would never be answered and I would be the person to ponder the answers. The judge, as it was.
Justin, a dedicated and talented doctor, lives happily with his wife Alicia, their older daughter Sophie and newborn son Luke. Their life is hectic and this story begins when Alicia’s car won’t start for the early morning rush hour run. Everything is at odds: Justin is bone weary, having been working for hours on a very complicated case, baby Luke has been fussing and Sophie is still upstairs when Alicia is already late. So the family clamber into Justin’s car. He really shouldn’t be driving at all; he should be comfortably asleep in his still warm bed or at least dozing off in the newly quiet house. But what devoted father of a newborn wouldn’t rush to help out his family? It was a mistake he would regret all of his life and the start of a downward spiral in their lives. Things only get worse as the heartbreaking consequences of a tragic accident are fuelled by an evil and determined someone who is determined to destroy the family for once and all. They are putty, malleable and ripe prey ready to be manipulated, their defences down; ripe meat. You’ll have to read the book to find out what happens but let me warn you…..expect the unexpected, don’t try to predict the many twists and turns (you’ll NEVER guess the ending) and get the tissues ready.
‘The Affair’ is a powerful and beautifully told psychological thriller with plenty of action for you to enjoy. The skilfully crafted characters are carefully developed and very diverse. You cannot believe the evil intentions of some of them; devious with self interest, cunning and even murderous intent, yet others are kind, caring and full of good intentions. The novel is mainly narrated by family members, most often alternating between Justin and Alicia and their story is full of frustrating missed opportunities. It’s a family story about haunting and dangerous secrets from the past, it’s about love, family, loss, despair and jealousy. The back story to the main story is very emotional and does help to inform the main story.
I received this novel through my membership of NetGalley and from publisher Bookouture, all in return for an honest review. It’s a 3.5* review from me. All the opinions are my own with no influence from other parties. It’s a good read for lovers of this genre.

Amazing, addictive, gripping are just a few descriptions of this book. Thankfully only the beginning had me crying or I might not have continued reading, I can't say much about the story because I don't want to give spoilers. I do recommend reading this book. I will say Alicia is very lucky to have Justin for her husband. Thank you NetGalley, Bookoutre and the Author for allowing me to read and review this book.

Wow...I'm speechless...it is just that amazing..

..seriously stop reading this review and just buy the book

... I mean its easily Sheryl Browne's best book to date, and has left me reeling.

...I was so gripped by this that I read it in record time, and even when I paused for a break, my mind was still on it

I can' talk about the plot as I may give spoilers, I can't really discussed the relatable to but fatally flawed characters that get under your skin, as there is so many thread that I may accidentally spoil if I say the wrong thing or phrase it in the wrong way.

In fact Sheryl Brown has written a book that is practically impossible review as everything is so cleverly crafted from the start. Actually the beginning of the book had me in tears and had me initially wondering if I was really readinga psychological thriller, but it does all make sense for the genre shortly after that and I didn't mind as the writing was just so powerful.

I felt as though I knew this family intimately by the end and even though I did feel at times I had guessed some elements there were then other shocks thrown in too.

This is addictive, compulsive book that has blown me away. Clear yourself a few hours where you can lock yourself away from the real world, pick up The Affair and then when you are done you may be able to emphasise with where my head is at the moment - simply superb!

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