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Kristina (502 KP) rated Twisted Together (Monsters in the Dark, #3) in Books
Dec 7, 2020
I felt extremely bored through about 60% of this book. I hate to say that, because the first book was amazing and the second book was pretty good, though it lacked that wow- factor. For me, the series went downhill after Tears of Tess.
This is a heart wrenching roller-coaster of a romance. Tess and Gus are meant to be together, they just keep missing one another. The pair have a fleeting moment in Florence in 1997 when they are both eighteen, Tess is inter-railing across Italy and Gus is on holiday with his parents, before University. Eberlen then takes us through moments in the next sixteen years when both characters face difficulties in their lives, teasing us with near misses and crossed paths for the duration of the book. Anyone who has read David Nicholls’ ‘One Day’ will thoroughly enjoy this little bit of escapism, serendipity and romance.

Debbiereadsbook (1437 KP) rated Bullets and Dandelions (Deputy Gemma Stone #0.5) in Books
Jan 30, 2025
struggled to keep up!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This is billed as a kind of prequel to the Gemma Stone series. I have to say, I only read book 2 of those, but I am confused as to what Tess here has to do with Gemma in the main series.
That said, my review for this book will be almost a carbon copy of my review for book 2, Stilettos and Combat Boots.
Because in that book, Gemma gets into so many scrapes and incidents, almost as many as Tess does here! Well, I mean, her dad is trying to kill her, an enemy of said dad is also trying to kill her and a bunch of Marines are trying to keep her alive, but she doesn't trust them, especially when they won't give her the chocolate she craves! So, she isn't living the easiest of lives, but again, it's WAY too much for me in such a short book.
There is a lot of violence here, with bombs, guns and helicopter crashes, and I couldn't catch my breath between each event, so Lord knows how Tess kept up.
There is no smex here, but . . . .oh! I *think* I just made the connection. One of the Marines is called Alex Stone, and I wonder if he is Gemma's brother? I dunno if it was mentioned, to be honest. Anyway, back to my thoughts. There is very little smex here, but Alex Stone does talk a lot about Tess and what they are gonna get up to, once they are safe (but I'm not sure that would happen any time soon!)
I liked it, it passed a quiet morning at work. But I would have liked to hear from Alex as well as Tess.
3 very good stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
This is billed as a kind of prequel to the Gemma Stone series. I have to say, I only read book 2 of those, but I am confused as to what Tess here has to do with Gemma in the main series.
That said, my review for this book will be almost a carbon copy of my review for book 2, Stilettos and Combat Boots.
Because in that book, Gemma gets into so many scrapes and incidents, almost as many as Tess does here! Well, I mean, her dad is trying to kill her, an enemy of said dad is also trying to kill her and a bunch of Marines are trying to keep her alive, but she doesn't trust them, especially when they won't give her the chocolate she craves! So, she isn't living the easiest of lives, but again, it's WAY too much for me in such a short book.
There is a lot of violence here, with bombs, guns and helicopter crashes, and I couldn't catch my breath between each event, so Lord knows how Tess kept up.
There is no smex here, but . . . .oh! I *think* I just made the connection. One of the Marines is called Alex Stone, and I wonder if he is Gemma's brother? I dunno if it was mentioned, to be honest. Anyway, back to my thoughts. There is very little smex here, but Alex Stone does talk a lot about Tess and what they are gonna get up to, once they are safe (but I'm not sure that would happen any time soon!)
I liked it, it passed a quiet morning at work. But I would have liked to hear from Alex as well as Tess.
3 very good stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere

The Chocolate Lady (94 KP) rated Kiss Me First in Books
Oct 5, 2020
What would you do to disappear from your real life, while your online persona lives on without you? That's just what Tess decides to do, with the help of Adrian's website that finds Leila to do the job. Read my review of this social networking thriller here. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2014/07/24/oh-the-tangled-wwweb-we-weave/

Alicia S (193 KP) rated Je Suis à Toi (Monsters in the Dark, #3.5) in Books
Sep 28, 2018
If you're a fan of dark romance this is a MUST READ series!!!
Tess & Q will always hold a special place in my heart as the Monsters in the Dark series was my first dark romance. Quickly falling absolutely in love with Pepper's writing, I anticipate each one more than the next. This was a beautiful, perfect visit with old friends and the HEA Tess and Q deserved. Their story broke me and this ending was more than I could have ever expected. I hurt for them watching them struggle through this new territory in their relationship and it was beyond painful to see Q beat himself up the way that he did... HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommended book, series & author. If you're a fan of dark romance this is a MUST READ series!!!

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated Buried in a Good Book in Books
May 25, 2022 (Updated May 25, 2022)
Life in the Wilderness Proves to be Deadly
In an attempt to bond with her teenage daughter after a divorce, bestselling thriller authors Tess Harrow decides to spend some time at the rustic cabin she’s recently inherited. But it turns out the lack of running water, electricity, and Wi-Fi aren’t the worst things there. Tess and her daughter haven’t even gotten in the door before there is a horrible boom followed by a rain of fish parts and a human arm. When the sheriff shows up, he is the spitting image of Tess’s main character. What has Tess stumbled into?
If that description sounds a little wacky, that’s because it is. But this book fully embraces it, and is better as a result. I was laughing the entire way through the book at the banter between the characters. The characters are strong and relatable if a bit broad to make the comedy work. I did feel the plot got a little convoluted as we neared the end, but that was my only complaint. Everything made sense in the end, and I was drawn in the entire time I was reading. If you are looking for laughs with your mystery, you’ll be happy you picked up this series debut.
If that description sounds a little wacky, that’s because it is. But this book fully embraces it, and is better as a result. I was laughing the entire way through the book at the banter between the characters. The characters are strong and relatable if a bit broad to make the comedy work. I did feel the plot got a little convoluted as we neared the end, but that was my only complaint. Everything made sense in the end, and I was drawn in the entire time I was reading. If you are looking for laughs with your mystery, you’ll be happy you picked up this series debut.

Heather (4 KP) rated The Stolen Marriage in Books
May 31, 2018
This was an amazing First Reads Win to receive!!! Diane Chamberlain weaves a wonderful story that felt so alive with a twist of real history. There were so many times I was angry with Henry and hopeful for Tess. I would 100% recommend this book to anyone and everyone that cannot wait to sink their teeth into a great story.

Merissa (12889 KP) created a post
Jan 29, 2025

Emma (519 KP) rated Bloodstream in Books
Jan 10, 2020
I really enjoyed this book, it kept me going all the way through. It's one of the first books I've enjoyed for a long time.
The only fault I could find is that the ending felt very rushed. I would have liked more effort in the ending rather than at various other points in the story.
I will however read more by Tess Gerritson.
The only fault I could find is that the ending felt very rushed. I would have liked more effort in the ending rather than at various other points in the story.
I will however read more by Tess Gerritson.

Midge (525 KP) rated The Perfect Betrayal in Books
Mar 16, 2019
A Perfect Thriller!
This book has all of the qualities of the perfect psychological thriller. Deftly layered with emotion and suspense it starts off fairly slowly but the tension builds into a dramatic sequence of events.
The story is told predominantly from the point of view of the main character, Tess, along with snippets from her grief counsellor and brother-in-law. Tess’ conversations that she had with her late husband were heart-breaking. It was an incredibly emotionally charged book, well written and beautifully plotted and so cleverly constructed to help conceal major reveals in the natural progression of the story.
“The Perfect Betrayal” is my favourite type of psychological thriller - where the voices and thoughts of the characters and the reader’s own imagination complement the story. From the beginning, it is an absorbing and riveting novel as well as being massively addictive. The main protagonist, Tess, did not know who to trust and nor did I.
Highly recommended, this is a sad and harrowing story of grief, love and loss, with a fulfilling but shocking finish. Lauren North’s writing is just exquisite and I will be looking out for her next offering.
[Thank you to #NetGalley, Random House UK/ Transworld Publishers, and Lauren North for my free ARC of #ThePerfectBetrayal in exchange for an honest review.]
The story is told predominantly from the point of view of the main character, Tess, along with snippets from her grief counsellor and brother-in-law. Tess’ conversations that she had with her late husband were heart-breaking. It was an incredibly emotionally charged book, well written and beautifully plotted and so cleverly constructed to help conceal major reveals in the natural progression of the story.
“The Perfect Betrayal” is my favourite type of psychological thriller - where the voices and thoughts of the characters and the reader’s own imagination complement the story. From the beginning, it is an absorbing and riveting novel as well as being massively addictive. The main protagonist, Tess, did not know who to trust and nor did I.
Highly recommended, this is a sad and harrowing story of grief, love and loss, with a fulfilling but shocking finish. Lauren North’s writing is just exquisite and I will be looking out for her next offering.
[Thank you to #NetGalley, Random House UK/ Transworld Publishers, and Lauren North for my free ARC of #ThePerfectBetrayal in exchange for an honest review.]