This is another show don’t tell book. I felt like I was reading a description of things and not a story.

As I was reading this, there was something about Alice that I didn’t like. Probably her attitude, which stems from her past that is always alluded to but not actually described at the start of the book. And I knew Luke was too good to be true. But luckily, I wanted to know her story and why Luke had contacted her. As the story progresses both Alice and Luke end up being more complex than they seem. The more you read, the more intense and quickly things progressed. It’s twisty and you won’t guess their secrets.

If you like secrets, lust and lies, this is your book.

A bit of a slow build to start but definitely worth the wait! Every thriller needs twists and this don’t fail to deliver! While I struggled to connect with either Alice or Luke and Luke’s constant financial burden on Alice really frustrated me!! It was a good read that I’d definitely recommend if you enjoy psychological thrillers!

The Secret Couple is an intense and at times dark read. I was drawn in completely and really did find it quite hard to stop reading. It is a slow burner but I love this in a book. You get to really know the characters well and the plot just gets stronger and stronger. I know many people don’t like to be told “the twist is totally unexpected” but trust me that has to be said and the twist is epic.

There are many secrets and untold lies running throughout and Alison, beginning a new relationship soon begins to wonder, is she really in to deep? Is Luke trouble or the answer to her prayers? The best thing in this book is that the characters have flaws, like us all. They are not likeable all the time, there is violence and temptation abounds and I enjoyed every single page. A proper thriller that has you gasping out loud and feeling somewhat drained by the events. If an author can evoke these strong feelings that you invest in the characters, then its a damn fine book. The suspense will keep you glued to The Secret Couple. Perfectly brilliant and unforgettable tension builder.

As psychological thrillers go, I found this too slow for my liking and, sadly, my interest started to wane.The story is dark with many twists and turns, the characterizations seriously flawed, realistic and somewhat relatable. The plot has so many things going on, and I really wish I could have been able to invest myself in it more, but sadly it wasn't the book for me.

This book kept me guessing right to the end! It’s dark and gives you that tension that only a really good psychological thriller can give.

The story follows Alice, a lawyer representing victims of domestic abuse and through a turn of events in her own relationship she finds herself in Bath, with a man called Luke. The author builds the complex characters in this story incredibly well and that’s part of the magic that keeps you gripped in the story along with the exploration of secrets, new relationships, violence and temptation. I was gripped from the first page to the last, constantly trying to guess the climax of the story (I wasn’t right!). I was totally invested in Alice and Luke’s relationship and the questions around should we keep secrets from those we love? (If that’s not a hook to get you to read this book I don’t know what is!)

If you love a drama filled, Rollercoaster ride of a thriller I thoroughly recommend adding this one to your summer reading lists!

My Thoughts:
This is a intense and well written thriller that although does have some dark and depressing moments it will keep you guessing till the end. The characters in this book Alice and Luke were some what unlikeable I didn’t hate Alice but she was a really cold woman and Luke story in life was a hard one. I am looking forward to reading more from this author

Book Review…The Secret Couple by J.S. Lark

Someone knows what they did…

A laugh.
A touch.
A lingering look.

A dead body.
An affair.
A crime years in the making.

Alison knows she’s in too deep. But behind closed doors, no one is who they seem…

The Secret Couple is a great thrill with some great twists! We follow Alice, a well respected defence attorney that defends women from violent and abusive men, and it is quite the adventure. Needing a break after leaving her husband, Alice goes to Bath to meet a potential client, Luke. But in the end she is getting way more than she bargained for a new relationship, secrets and a whole lot of trouble. This book is full of Secrets, violence, lust, love and temptation! The pace of the story was spot on and you can feel the suspense throughout the whole book! The characters are complex and each one gives you the feeling that they are hiding something. The characters are likeable but at the same time there are moments you won't like any of them but it just makes them feel more real. It's definitely a page turner that will have you glued to the pages to find out how everything ends!

Thank you Rachel's Random Resources and J.S. Lark for sharing this great story with me!

This book had me hooked from the beginning, with so many secrets, twists, and so much tension throughout-I devoured this book-what a great thriller!

We are introduced to Alice who works defending people, mainly women who have been victims of violence and abuse. She killed her first husband because he was abusive towards her, and has recently left her current husband after she discovered that he cheated on her with a woman that they both work with. Clearly Alice does not have the best of luck. She goes on vacation where she meets Luke, who is incredibly sexy and charming, but also a potential client of hers. Despite his outward appearance and his charm, Alice feels that something feels a bit off with Luke, she just cannot point her finger on it.

Alice is in no hurry to rush into anything serious after her disastrous breakup from her ex husband, but she doesn’t mind something casual, but Alice realizes that she does not know much about Luke and his past, he clearly has secrets he is keeping from her, but then again….Alice has a past and secrets as well.

This is a twisty thriller that starts off as a slow burn but eventually turns into a fast paced roller coaster filled with lots of secrets, jealousy, lust and lies. I loved that the author wrote such complex and deep characters, but I will say that I was not too fond of Alice. The author did a great job with building up the tension throughout the book as it progressed, which kept me turning the pages.

Overall, a great book and I am looking forward to reading other books by the author!

5 Word Review: Secrets, danger, power, vigilante, family.

The blurb for this book really gives nothing away - I went in barely knowing what I was in for. Which turned out to be perfect for such a twisting psychological thriller.

Alice is a lot more trusting than I thought she'd be, given her past, especially with Luke. It was weird and jarring but set everything up excellently. It made the tension build quicker, it made the atmosphere very claustrophobic - there is a lot of emphasis on Luke physically, each little touch and expression noted. I have to say - Alice's relationship with alcohol had me taking a long hard look at myself. I thought she was very relatable, even if she had me pondering her motives and her past. And Luke? A total enigma, but a dangerous feeling one.

I loved the writing - it's very different from what I'm used to and it lulled me into a false sense of security before stunning me with every twist and turn of the plot. The beginning of this book had me intrigued - the story builds slowly, so slowly, and draws you in and all of a sudden it's flying past. There are clever hints dropped throughout the story, from character reactions and flashbacks, to crossword clues and answers.

The Secret Couple made me really want to visit Bath. The beginning, where they explore a bit, had me itching to jump on a train, even though it'd take a good five hours and multiple changes from where I live.

I will definitely be checking out this author's back list! I need more. The Secret Couple was a quick read that's perfect for a dark night.

Thank you for the ARC

This was a good read, however took about 100 pages to get into it. It’s a story about a woman named Alice Johnston who is a solicitor who had killed her husband and is a defender for justice, she meets a man named Luke who had been traumatized by his parents and he is looking to possibly hire Alice as a solicitor.

The whirlwind affair between the two will keep you guessing

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review and opinion! OMG read this ASAP! It's so good and will draw you in from page one and keep you holding your breath until you finish it. This book is so good and I can't wait for all my friends to read it so we can talk about it.

This is usually the type of novel I would give up on.
Not sure how I managed to finish it, perhaps to find out how all the nonsense would pan out ?

The idea is there but the writing let's it down and the set up isn't strong enough. There is then too much going on, perhaps a sequel would have worked better.

The 'strong, intelligent' main character is anything but if her decisions are anything to go by and makes for a ridiculous situation.

The only way I can describe the 'twist' is silly. The ending is predictable.

Extraordinary and Intelligent...........................

You do not find a book like The Secret Couple By J S Lark daily in your recommendations. A very different book with a marvelous plot which does not for a second let you guess the climax. The characters are so awesome that you would not be able to guess their real nature. All the characters are woven like they all have a secret to hide. A very different and intriguing story. I was so absorbed in the book that I finished it within a day, could not put it down for a second.

Definitely, the book deserves a 5 Star. Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources, Netgalley and One More Chapter Publishing for providing me an opportunity to read and review the book.

Brilliant book. Great characters and story that had me turning pages at pace. Didn’t want it to end.

As psychological thrillers go I found this too slow for my liking and sadly my interest started to wane.

The story is dark with many twists and turns, the characterisations seriously flawed, realistic and somewhat relatable.

The plot has so many things going on and I really wish I could have been able to invest myself in it more, but sadly it wasn't the book for me.

Many thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for my tour spot.

Rating ⭐⭐⭐

The premise for this book told little of what the actual story was about so I kind of went in blind...particularly with not knowing the author or their style. It was a risky move that sometimes pays off...and sometimes doesn't. In this case, it was the latter.

We meet Alice Johnston, a well-respected and successful solicitor who specialises in defending those who need a voice...specifically abused women. Her husband of three years, Joseph, is also a solicitor within the same firm. And unfortunately, he has just confessed to having an affair with their receptionist..."but it was before we were together" he stresses. Alice loses faith in both Joseph and the marriage she thought she had and in a fit of anger, packs a suitcase and boards a train out of Paddington to the West Country.

But what made Alice choose Bath for her impromptu escape? A few days before, she had received an email from an anonymous person asking for her help. There is no name, no details, no information as to who or what she'd be walking into. The person requested that she meet them in a hotel restaurant in Bath...hence her impromptu travel plans. She checks in and collapses on the bed and sleeps half the day away before preparing herself for her meeting.

After waiting for some time, Alice realises she has been stood up...or maybe the person changed their mind about meeting her. Had they contacted her to let her know she wouldn't know as she left her phone turned off and locked in a drawer in her room to escape the incessant text messages from Joseph. But then she is approached by the young bartender, Luke, who has been serving her who then discloses that it was him whom she was waiting for. He informs her that he wants her to represent him. For what? Nothing yet...but for something he wants to do.

Intrigued and puzzled in equal measure, Alice tries to question him further to which he replies "Not tonight. This isn't the place."

Luke then invites her out the following night but reveals even less about his plans and what he requires of her and seems more intent on showing her a good time, drinking and pub crawling. Inevitably, they begin a romance which is insane since she knows nothing about him and he still continues his line of "Not tonight. Later."

Honestly, it was all dribble in my opinion and I didn't care for either Alice or Luke. I have no idea what he intended doing and why he needed Alice's services because he seemed more interested in bedding her than anything else. If this is a thriller, it a slow one. And if it is a slow burn, it is glacial - both in speed and intensity.

I realise I am in the minority here with so many rave reviews but I've said it before than I don't care for slow burns unless they intrigue me. And this one didn't. The premise said very little and I wish I had just moved past it instead of choosing to step into its minefield.

If you like slow burns, then you may well enjoy this one. I honestly couldn't get past the first creepy 20% of the 437 pages I'd otherwise subject myself to. It was dark and depressing and if a book fails to grab me within that time, then I move on. Life is too short and my TBR pile too big to read books that I don't enjoy.

I would like to thank #JSLark, #Netgalley, #OneMoreChapter and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #TheSecretCouple in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

This is the second book I've read by this author. I find her writing really interesting, although I found this book a little longer than it maybe needed to be.

It was full of twists and turns.  There are hard hitting subjects covered within this book which are handled with such sensitivity.

It's a real slow burner that keeps you guessing and another one I've enjoyed by this author.
⭐⭐⭐💫

“The Secret Couple” by J. S. Lark follows Alice in the aftermath of leaving her husband. Looking for an escape, she heads to Bath to meet a potential client named Luke. As she spends more time with Luke, she catches herself falling for him, but there are so many secrets between them. She killed her first husband out of “defense” and she suspects he might be involved with the murder of his own parents. Is she in love? Or is this better left as a fling?

This book was a rollercoaster from beginning to end. Alice is so hot and cold with Luke, it’s hard to keep up with. Her professional reasons for keeping him at a distance makes sense, but ultimately her wishy-washy behavior makes things so much worse for her. I’m not certain that I liked her as a character, simply because she didn’t seem to be decisive on what she actually wants with Luke or in her life.

The biggest question in this book is whether or not we allow the people we love to keep secrets from us and if we are entitled to our own secrets. I don’t really work like that, so for me the answer was easy, no secrets. It seems both Alice and Luke debate this question over and over while deciding whether to stay together or not.

For me, the ending fell a little flat from what I expected. I felt like this mystery devolved into more of a drama about relationships. I wanted to care about the court cases, but they seemed so background. In the end, I gave this book 4 stars! It was interesting and quick, but ultimately, I wanted a little more thrill.

Thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for the ARC in exchange for my honest review! This book is out now!

Affairs, deception, lies, twists, turns, and a compelling storyline.

In this book where everyone is a liar. Where do you find the truth?

This is a gripping book, really well written, don't miss if you love a good physiological thriller.