This book had me engaged from the very start. I enjoyed reading from the different perspectives, especially of Cam whist at sea,. I feel the sea/fisherman parts of the story helped to differentiate it from other similar domestic dramas and gave it more of an interesting spin.
 Thanks for Netgalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

Oh this was such a good read! The Storm follows Hannah who appears to have a great life, a beautiful house a loving husband who is about to receive an award for being citizen of the year. To any onlooker she has it all, who wouldn't want to be married to Nathan her doting husband but behind closed doors things are a very different story, Nathan keeps her passport hidden in a safe asks for receipts for everything she spends refuses to let her have a bank card of her own, chooses her clothes, tells her he tells her things that she never remembers but it's all lies he likes to make her feel insecure and helpless.

The storyline has a few perspectives which I loved my favourite parts are Cams his perspective is from the past in 1998 and the moments at sea are just superb Cams storyline slowly reveals the terrible events that drive Hannah and Cam apart and that leave her husband with a secret hold over her.

The storm is one of those stories that is quite a slow burn but really sucks you in too, I absolutely loved seeing Hannah find the strength to fight back more and learning all the secrets of the past kept me turning the pages. I actually think the author does a fantastic job of making you dislike Nathan but at the same time as the story progressed I kind of ended up pitying him. All in all a great read that I flew through and I'm in a reading slump so 100% would recommend.


Thank you so much to the publishers for the review copy and inviting me to be part of the blog tour.

I loved this book it was a deep, dark and disturbing read which is my kind of book.  Can’t believe it my  first book by this author.  Will be reading more very soon. Loved it.

I read The Storm in just a few hours, the first time in months that I'd been able to read a digital book so quickly. It's dark, intense, beautiful, mesmerising and tragic, exactly what I expected from the immensely talented Amanda Jennings. I have loved all of her books to date, all well-plotted, well-written and expertly crafted, with the Cornish landscape so well-described that it is an integral part of the plot, as well as the setting. Another fabulous psychological thriller filled with secrets.

I was immediately drawn into this book whose descriptions are very accurate of Cornwall and fishing life.  I liked the intertwining of the present and the past and was intrigued to know why the young lovers had split up.  Obviously we are not expected to like the controlling husband and this does make him somewhat one dimensional.  A good summer read

This one will have you gripped from the very first page right through to the last !!

Hannah and Nathan seem to have the perfect marriage to the outside world but behind closed doors there is a different story.

Nathan is very controlling of Hannah and their teenage son, Alex.  He controls the money and what’s everything done exactly as he wants.  Hannah has spent years just trying to keep the peace and does as she is told but Alex is becoming more rebellious against his dads behaviour.

After one argument Alex goes missing and  Hannah is beside herself with worry.  But the following day Alex returns but with him comes Cam.  It soon transpires that there is no love lost between Nathan and Cam but why did Alex visit Cam, who he has never met ? And what are the consequences of Cam’s return on Hannah ?

This is a great book based on what someone is willing to do to protect the ones they love.  Hannah and Alex’s relationship was a joy to read about and I absolutely found myself willing Hannah on  throughout the book.  The story is written in the present day and also in the past leading up to how Hannah found herself losing Cam, the love of her life, and marrying Nathan.  A little of a slow starter but stick with it as it is definitely worth it !!

Thank you to HQ and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

I have mixed feelings about this book. It was beautifully written and very descriptive. I enjoyed the intricacies of the controlling relationship between Hannah and Nathan. He was a very domineering presence. However, there were some chapters that I felt weren't necessary.

A three-way perspective of both the then and now between three characters. The past chapters had their significance, but also borderlined on being a little too much.

Perhaps a little long, this was an emotive and dark story ultimately showing the sacrifice a woman makes to keep those she loved safe.

What a book!

Hannah is married to highly-esteemed lawyer Nathan Cardew and they have a teenage son called Alex. They live in a beautiful house in Cornwall that once belonged to Nathan's parents. Their marriage is far from perfect though. Nathan is controlling, makes Hannah show him receipts for everything she buys and she doesn't even have her own bank account or passport. But the full story runs much deeper.

The chapters alternate between the points of view of Hannah, Nathan and Hannah's old boyfriend, fisherman Cam Stewart, back in 1998. It is very obvious to us that Hannah loved Cam but something tragic happened which led to Hannah choosing Nathan and settling down with him, never to see Cam again...until Alex goes missing and brings Cam back into her life.

I absolutely loved this book. Nathan is a character that you just hate from the start and you feel very sorry for Hannah having to live the way she does. We are fed information about what happened and why she does put up with it in dribs and drabs which just pushes you to want to read more to find out the full story.

The Cornish setting is beautifully described, Jennings really sets the scene and the whole book just played like a movie in my head whilst reading. I know absolutely nothing about fishing but I feel like the scenes with Cam on his boat back in 1998 really taught me something! 

I honestly didn't suspect what had happened at all and the ending - that last sentence - made me want to scream! Fantastic.

Set near Penzance in Cornwall, The Coast tells the story of Hannah and Nathan Cardew, their 15-year-old son, Alex, and dog, Cass. Nathan is a lawyer while Hannah doesn’t work and is a stay-at-home mum. The family live in New Mill in Trevose House, which was originally Nathan’s family home and used to be much larger but his father, Charles, was a gambler and ended up selling off parts of the estate to pay his debts. He died suddenly on Nathan’s 13th birthday.

Nathan is very controlling and won’t let Hannah do anything without his approval. He tells her what to wear, won’t let her have her own money, checks her receipts, she isn’t allowed to work or have her own car. He expects everything to be done to a schedule – from when meals are served to when they have sex. Their relationship is toxic: he twists her words, gaslights her and tries to convince her that he’s told her things when he hasn’t. He also enjoys putting her down at every opportunity and tries to make her feel grateful that he wants to be with her. Hannah makes excuses for Nathan to Alex and others and claims he’s just overprotective.

Hannah only has one friend, Vicky, who she’s known since they were at nursery together. Vicky is married to Phil and they have four-year-old twins. It’s coming up to her 40th birthday and she wants Hannah to go away for the night but they’re both expecting Nathan to refuse.

To try and retain a small amount of independence, Hannah meets Vicky every Tuesday in secret at a cafe in Penzance and she also sneaks out at night to smoke the pack of cigarettes that Vicky gives her every other week. Nathan has never liked Vicky – he thinks she’s a bad influence, common and a flirt – and he hates smoking. Hannah is also clever with money and uses the cash Nathan gives her carefully; buying cheaper products and pretending to lose receipts so that she can squirrel away a small amount to treat herself, her mum or Alex.

Hannah has routines that keep her going, like doing things on certain days. Her mum is in a care home after a bad fall and she visits her regularly and so does Alex. Her son is the most important thing in her life and the main reason why she hasn’t left Nathan. She can’t escape as she fears what will happen to Alex. She suffered postnatal depression when he was younger and ran away with him. Nathan said she was endangering their baby and took away her passport and bank card and he continues to uses her supposed instability as a threat to stop her from leaving him.

The story is told from the viewpoints of Hannah, Nathan and her ex-boyfriend, Cameron (Cam) Stewart, and switches between 1998 and the present day, which is 15 years later. We learn how Hannah met both men in Newlyn near Penzance when she was working in her dad’s bakery and Cam was a fisherman on The Annamae, and how things developed and the competition between the two men, who knew each other from primary school, as they vied for her affections.

When Alex disappears after an argument with his dad and Hannah’s mum falls ill, these two events are the catalyst for the truth about what happened in the past being revealed. There’s a brooding atmosphere, which is matched by the brewing storm, which is the focus of the key events of 1998 that have shaped the rest of Hannah’s life.

This compelling, well-layered story had me intrigued from the start as we know that something shattering happened 15 years previously that affected Hannah, Nathan and Cam and caused the change in direction of all their lives. Hannah still feels so guilty about what happened in the past and her punishment is her abusive life with Nathan. The coercive control of their relationship is very chilling and you can see how easy it is for someone to be in a situation like that and how difficult it would be to get away, with no money or means of escape, and the terrifying thought of uprooting your entire life.

This was a tense, dramatic and traumatic read at times – I was willing Hannah to fight back, stand up to Nathan and break free from his controlling ways. The scenes with Cam and the other fishermen as they faced the storm were also gripping and very nerve racking. There was a great sense of tension as the story unfolded and the truth was revealed. Nothing is as clear cut as it seems and there were several instances of misdirection and various twists and turns.

Being a fisherman sounds a tough life and it was interesting to get an insight into how difficult a job it is and how harsh and unforgiving the sea and weather conditions are. The men have some good banter though and enjoy their downtime in the pub!

Overall, I really enjoyed this dark, well-written and cleverly plotted novel. There was a great build up as we got to the climax of the story and realised why the main protagonists were behaving as they were. It’s a chilling and disturbing read and one I’m still thinking about days later. The storm scenes were very tense and atmospheric and conveyed the drama and trauma of the events well.

From the outside Hannah has the perfect life. But in truth she is locked prisoner in a controlling and abusive marriage to Nathan.. Still cursing the day that she chose Nathan as her husband and still pining for her childhood sweetheart Cam to come and save her from her nightmare she feels trapped and so alone with only her son Alex and Cass the dog to give her life meaning. 

After a particularly heated argument Hannah’s son Alex goes missing and when he returns the next day he is accompanied by Cam whom Hannah hasn’t seen for 15 years.. And thats where the story begins to weave together. 

I found this one to be a really easy read. Not too heavy but with enough drama and lies to keep me entertained. I did find the ending a tad predictable and I was satisfied with it on the whole. I really enjoyed how the story was told to the backdrop of a Cornish seaside town. Made me really want to go to the beach!
I found Hannah to be such a positive and strong character.. even though she had been ground down so much over the years her thoughts were so well held together. The way she was playing the game of her relationship with Nathan to get some perks from her life was really clever. 

Overall a nice easy dramatic summer read.

Not my favourite read I have to say. Hannah could and did in parts win my sympathy but the whole plot got heavy going and so a bit boring for certainly the middle third. Predictable in places and some unlikely situations especially when Hannah who was justly afraid of her husband risked a night away from him with someone else. 
I know the ending was a twist but I really disliked the last paragraph. Obviously I’m not going to give it away but if felt weak to me.

Amanda Jennings is a new author for me and I will definitely be looking out for more of her work. This is a story with lots of twists as it goes from past and present. It is also very descriptive of the daily life and challenges of fishermen. Well worth a read

A sincere thank you to the publisher, author and netgalley for providing me with an ebook copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This isn’t a book/genre that I normally read, however, I was drawn to it and I’m pretty glad I did. For the most part I enjoyed it but it jumped a bit too often. The characters were well thought out and I found myself cheering Hannah on. It definitely had a dark side to it but depicted the varying lengths that some people will go to keep what they want and not care what it does to them. Abuse doesn’t always show scars on the outside.

I’m glad I gave this book a go as I really enjoyed it.

4****

I really enjoyed Amanda Jennings' previous book, The Cliff House, and her beloved Cornwall is once again the location for her latest novel, The Storm. Set mainly around the fishing village of Newlyn and moving between the present day and twenty years earlier, the reader witnesses how the lives of a number of people were changed by the dramatic events of one night in 1998. Fragments of that eventful night are glimpsed in the prologue but the full picture will not become clear until the end of the book.

For Hannah, the events of that night led to her marriage to Nathan, a kind of Faustian bargain she entered into to protect others. Nathan's obsessive jealousy has seen him control every aspect of Hannah's life. She steels herself to complicity in this out of guilt - "Our marriage is punishment for what I did" - and for the sake of their son, Alex. So she plays the part expected of her and recites her lines in order to keep the peace. Alex is pretty much the only source of joy in Hannah's life along with her best friend, Vicky.

Nathan is one disturbing individual. Outwardly he's a model citizen and pillar of the community, but inside he's something quite different. As Hannah remarks, he's "my very own Jekyll and Hyde". A damaged individual, a traumatic event in Nathan's childhood explains, if not excuses, his actions towards Hannah.

In the scenes set in 1998, the author vividly depicts the back-breaking work of the six-man crew aboard a small trawler and the dangers they face on a daily basis. Taking such risks out of economic necessity, a safe return to harbour is never guaranteed but when it occurs, the crew seek release through drink, and sometimes drugs, in the local pub. When the Atlantic storm of the title hits the trawler, the awesome force of the sea is evident. "Six men, no more than specks of dust on an ocean so powerful and unpredictable, so savage, they could be swallowed up in the blink of an eye." The consequences of the storm will change lives forever.

I'm not sure which element I found more compelling: the chilling portrait of Hannah and Nathan's toxic relationship or the scenes set on the storm-lashed trawler.  The Storm is an intensely atmospheric and compelling drama that shows even the most carefully guarded secrets have a way of coming to the surface. The final lines sent chills down my spine.

To the outside world Hannah married the perfect man. Behind the closed doors of their imposing home it’s a very different story. Nathan controls everything Hannah does. He chooses her clothes, checks her receipts, and keeps her passport locked away. But why does she let him? Years before, in the midst of a relentless storm, the tragic events of one night changed everything. And Hannah has been living with the consequences ever since. Keeping Nathan happy. Doing as she’s told.
 
But the past is about to catch up with them.
 
Set against the unforgiving backdrop of a Cornish fishing port in the ‘90s, this is a devastating exploration of the power of coercive control in a marriage where nothing is quite as it seems…

Thank you to HQ for sending me an exclusive widget. Unfortunately, due to just being so busy (which in the current climate I can’t believe I am saying!), I have only just finished this novel!

This book was hugely addictive. It explores obsessive, controlling relationships and you can feel the suspense in the writing that something bad, really bad is going to happen. 

This book was a great read and I will be looking for more by the same author!

The Storm is another absorbing novel from the acclaimed Amanda Jennings; if you haven't read In Her Wake you should put it on your list to do so!

The title itself both refers to the weather and the devastation that can be caused by one, particularly if you are a fisherman of the Cornish coast, and the storminess of our lead character's private life. Hannah and Nathan have been locked into what seems to be from the reader's perspective, a miserable life and their son, Alex, is another casualty to the unhealthy home life. Then Alex disappears and the past and the present collide in a perfect storm.

This is a story whose magic is only enhanced by the setting and the realistic way that the life of a Cornish fisherman is bought so vividly to life. The storyline is engaging and many reader's will want to understand the motivations of all the key characters.

This tale was very absorbing - not only was there a story to be told and a plot to unravel but there were so many more issues addressed. Nathan is a lawyer who gives back to his community - he is very popular - he has a lovely home - a wife, Hannah and a son, Alex. As he repeatedly reminds Hannah - it is his house! Nathan is a control freak and he keeps Hannah on a very short leash - no money, no freedom, no friends, reliant on him for everything.
As the story progresses we learn how Hannah's past has led to this situation and there are several twists to unravel. Hannah at times appears calculating and Alex is growing up and rebelling.
All their characters are well portrayed and fascinating.
This is my first book by this author, certainly not my last!
Many thanks to Netgalley/Amanda Jennings/HQ for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Review 👇🏻📚

I was kindly asked by @hqstories to take part in a blog tour of this novel called 'The Storm' by @amanda_jennings1 and boy am I glad they asked me scroll down to see why..   ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
  ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
To the outside world Hannah married the perfect man. Behind the closed doors of their imposing house it's a very different story. Nathan controls everything Hannah does. He chooses her clothes, checks her receipts, and keeps her passport locked away. But why does she let him?  
Years before, in the midst of a relentless storm, the tragic events of one night changed everything and Hannah has been living with the consequences every since. Keeping Nathan happy. Doing as she's told.   
But the past is about to catch up with them...
  ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I was gripped to this book from the moment I started it, I read the lot in a whole day, I just couldn’t put it down. It’s an emotional rollercoaster, you’ll love, hate and be suspicious of all the characters. 'The Storm' is such a chilling and gripping read and it’s about love and what sacrifices you would make to save someone even if it means giving up the life you wanted. This book would make a fabulous TV drama. Download it, buy it & love it as much as I did. OUT TOMORROW!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Storm by Amanda Jennings is a fascinating family drama that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. I was gripped by the story of Hannah and Nathan, whose marriage isn’t quite as straight forward as it at first seems.

The beautiful but unforgiving setting of a Cornish fishing port in the 1990’s is the backdrop for this suspense filled drama that kept me on my toes from beginning to end. What happened all those years ago on the night of the storm that changed Hannah and Nathan’s lives forever? Why, ever since that night, does Hannah allow Nathan to dictate how she lives her life? And how is the tragedy of the past about to make itself known in the present?

I loved this book. Amanda Jennings has written a fast paced and gripping tale that’s full of twists, turns and surprises to keep you guessing right up until the final page has been turned. An atmospheric read that I thoroughly enjoyed, The Storm is a book I would highly recommend.

The Storm was a book I devoured in a day and totally loved it.
Hannah is married to lawyer Nathan Cardew, they have a son, Alex and they live in Trevose House, Cornwall. Hannah is controlled by Nathan in every sense, she has no passport and isn’t even allowed a debit card. Nathan gives Hannah money for shopping and expects receipts and exact change every time! He doesn’t physically abuse her but his words do more damage than his hands ever could. To the outside world though Hannah lives a perfect life in a big house, lawyer for a husband who has just won an award for all the charity work he’s done but Nathan holds a secret of Hannah’s and she knows if it gets out it will be more harmful to her than her life is now. 
The book bounces between past and present and shows Hannah when she was young and in love with a boy called Cal, who worked on the fishing boats and I loved reading about the nautical side, especially whilst in the storm. 
This book had my pulse rushing and loved it, I hoped I’d love it as much as “The Cliff House” and yes I did!!
I would like to thank Netgalley and HQ for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.