This was another cracking read from Amanda Jennings about a womans not so perfect marriage to a controlling husband. Beautifully written and insightful and sure to keep you on the edge of your seat as the past finally catches up with him.

The Storm by Amanda Jennings is a gripping psychological thriller that explores the dark side of family secrets and lies. The story follows Hannah, a young woman who returns to her childhood home after a devastating tragedy, only to discover that her past is not what she thought it was. Jennings creates a tense and atmospheric setting, with vivid descriptions of the stormy Cornish coast and the isolated mansion where Hannah grew up. The characters are well-developed and complex, each with their own motivations and secrets. The plot is full of twists and turns, keeping the reader guessing until the very end. The Storm is a captivating and suspenseful read that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

This book had lovely descriptive writing and was filled with twists and turns.
The setting is so descriptive.
A well written book

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

If you enjoy your thriller books then you need to read this. A great story & well written.
Thank you to both NetGalley and publishers for gifting me this book

A very atmospheric psychological thriller. The descriptions of places and the coast was amazing and you really felt as though you were there too.

Great storyline and great characters. The reveals were shocking.

The Storm Set in Cornwall and is a tale of oppression, obsession, loss and cohesive control. Hannah’s story is expertly crafted but I was so underwhelmed with her dull and appeasing character. I persevered though but it was too predictable for me. Long suffering wife in a controlling marriage, long lost loving ex...

This was an interesting read. A story about emotional and financial abuse, and a lot of manipulation. I found the story intriguing and I was keen to get through it to the end, but I did find that the last part of the book dragged. A few times I got to the end of the chapter and thought it was the end, then sighed because it wasn’t. Usually I want a book to last for a few more chapters, but this one actually needed some chapters taking away.

A predictable but unsettling psychological thriller. I liked the atmospheric setting of Cornwall which gives the narrative authenticity.

Well this was a bloody good read! I don't really know how much I can say without ruining the plot or giving anythig away but it had me hooked and I didn't want to put it down. A lot of the twists I tried to guess and got them wrong but the reveals weren't ridiculous and made complete sense to the story. We see a dual narrative of the story being tld in the present and also in past from both Hannah's POV and Cam's POV.
I feel it should be mentioned that there is a trigger for animal abuse in the book.

A complex tale of love, secrets and obsession, THE STORM is not what you might at first think. A slow burn that begins with a puzzling Prologue before moving onto the tale of Hannah and the tangled web she has woven around herself. But oh, tales set in Cornwall are so atmospheric that the setting alone makes for some sinister reading. And this one was no different.

To the outside world, Hannah has the perfect life married to the perfect man and living in a beautiful house that has been in her husband's family for generations. They have a teenage son, Alex, and Hannah lives a life of relative leisure whilst lawyer husband Nathan provides their every need. Perfect? Maybe on the outside. But behind closed doors it is a very different story indeed.

An expert at twisting words and scenarios to suit his needs, Nathan is a master of manipulation. He controls everything Hannah does - from the clothes she wears, the people she sees, checks her shopping receipts afterwhich she gives him the change, keeps her passport locked away and does not allow to have a bank account or even a driver's licence. He gives her enough money for a bus fare and a few grocery items and nothing more. If she dare questions him or speaks out, he fabricates a conversation that never happened out of thin air and blames her poor memory for not recalling it. But why does Hannah allow him to treat her this way?

Sixteen years before, a tragic event occurred in the midst of a relentless storm changing everything she ever knew. And the consequences of that night have haunted her memories ever since. A storm, a life, a tragedy became a lie, a secret and a deception so big that Hannah agrees to a marriage to a man she doesn't love. For what? And why?

Now her teenage son Alex is rebelling against his father's restraints, often talking back to him without fear and arguments that lead to bouts of rage and the danger of the truth coming out. But Hannah must protect her son at all costs. No matter what.

But when Alex runs away and returns with a face from Hannah's past, the wheels are set in motion to bring this fast moving trainwreck derailing off its tracks. Hannah is speechless; Nathan is livid; Cam is tentative; while Alex is confused.

It was inevitable that Nathan's carefully constructed prison he has erected around Hannah would coming tumbling down just as Hannah's secrets from the past would inevitably resurface. But none of them could predict the way it would unravel...and the secrets it would inevitably reveal.

THE STORM was about more than just a storm. It was a storm waiting to happen in the sham of a marriage. It was a storm that raged just beneath the surface of Nathan's carefully constructed life. It was a storm that would erupt when all three would come together sixteen years later when the truth would finally be revealed.

I hated Nathan with a vengeance. He was creepy, he was controlling, he was manipulative. How could someone profess to love someone and then treat them how he treated Hannah? And then twist every word that was said, every thing that happened and every scenario for his own narcissistic gain. I couldn't wait to see him get his comeuppance as was surely bound to happen. The guy deserved everything coming to him and more.

The story itself is told primarily by Hannah with the occasional narratives by Nathan and Cam respectively. I must admit I wasn't overly interested in life at sea as a fisherman...blah blah blah...and admittedly glossed over much of that as I was only interested in the story and the hold Nathan had over Hannah and apparently Cam. And I could have done without the excessive colourful language. I'm no prude and accept the f-bomb is dropped on occasion in storylines, but I found it excessive and with the addition of the much hated c-word as well. Totally unnecessary, in my opinion, whether fisherman use that language or not...I don't care. I didn't want to read it continually.

I did, however, adore the setting. Cornwall is always a favourite setting as I tend to gravitate towards stories set there with the stormy rugged coastline a character in its own right. It is always an atmospheric setting, almost spooky at times, in particular the house in which Hannah and Nathan live with the ghost of Nathan's father, and the nature of his death, forever looming in Hannah's mind.

With a myriad of layers to unfold, THE STORM is more than just a tale of manipulation and coercive control. It is about secrets, lies, deception and so much more. And as events unfold and the tragic tale of the past becomes clear, you will see that not everything is as it seems as the truth begins to fall into place.

Not my usual choice of story, I did enjoy THE STORM whilst loathing Nathan with a passion. Yet at the same time, it is revealed why he is the way he is and that he is just as damaged as the rest of them. Only he now maintains a level of control to project an image to the public. And it's that that makes him a force to be reckoned with and a sinister if not malevolent opponent to come up against. An engrossing domestic thriller with a difference, the ending will leave you speechless.

I would like to thank #AmandaJennings, #Netgalley and #HQDigital for an ARC of #TheStorm in exchange for an honest review.

i've loved every single thriller from amanda so far and this one didn't disappoint. it gripped me from start to finish and i didn't want it to end, i had to stop reading so i could come back to it later.

I found this book difficult to read at times. The manipulation and control that Hannah endured from her husband Nathan drove me crazy. I found it incredibly frustrating that she not only continued to live with him but allowed him to parent her son. She made so many terrible choices and I found her quite annoying.

I liked the switch from present to past but the story was a little predictable. The descriptions of Cornwall and the sea were well done - a great sense of place but overall it was just okay.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review

Intriguing story which jumped between two different time scales which is a feature that I really like..
Lots of twists and turns and some areas which were difficult to read without getting annoyed (Nathan's controlling attitude)..

I have mixed feelings over this book.

Very easy to read and lots of twists. But Nathan as a lead character is someone you just want to shout at! But this doesn’t distract from the story.

A thoroughly enjoyable read, lots of twists and turns that just keeps you guessing! I couldn't stop reading.

This is the first of Amanda Jenning's novels I've read and I was drawn to the synopsis and the West Cornwall setting. The novel explores the toxic relationship between Hannah and Nathan and the issue of coercive control. There is a claustrophobic and intense atmosphere which reflects the relationship and I loved the Cornish setting. Sadly for me I couldn't connect with the characters and felt that the plot was underdeveloped and the writing didn't flow. This has the potential and ingredients for a gripping novel but not one for me.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC.

In all truth this read and review has been a long time coming as I picked it up several times and put it down several times. Why? Although well written this is a frustrating read and his controlling behaviour I couldn't get past purely because she thought she was doing the right thing, yet it absolutely wasn't.
I am sad that I couldn't gel with the story, I had high hopes that it would be gripping but my mind was sadly having none of it,
3 stars given as it's definitely written well, and no reflection on the author that I couldn't gel with it.

I really enjoyed this book and got really invested in the characters. There were lots of twists and turns that kept me guessing and it kept my wanting more. I highly recommend this book.

Really enjoyed this book, couldn’t put it down! I just wanted to know what was happening. I also liked the setting in the book.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.