A fabulous read and a great ending to this series. Could be read as a stand alone but I think its so much better to read as a series to fully appreciate the characters. Seems sad to be the last chapter for Sam and Seb but I'm sure the next series will be just as engaging.

This is a series I have adored. I love a trip to the dark side and this has been the perfect gangland visit.

Although this is part of a series, it reads well as a standalone. My main question going into this - will we get a happy ending?

Baylis has included a number of brilliant characters. The book is action packed and filled with everything you want from a gangland book.

Baylis has included torture, revenge, judgements and murder. This is a fast paced read which has you hooked. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing.

This is a brilliant read and I can’t wait to see what the author has in store for us next.

I absolutely recommend this book.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

What a brilliant crime book. it will keep you turning the pages to quickly get you on to the next chapter.
Gripping thrilling tense. Great characters. Violence is in bucket loads just what you are looking for in this kind of book.
I loved every page a really hot story. Don't miss this treat of a series.

Gangland thrillers are a rare genre for me but this has so much heart I loved it. While the novel is dark and gritty with all the hallmarks of the genre it has an emotional depth and the family and relationships being so beautifully written. I really loved this but the one mistake I made was reading this without the background knowledge and I am going to binge the entire series ASAP

I love a good, gritty, at times brutal gangland thriller and Judgement is a killer read. This is a series with expertly interwoven characters whose paths will inevitably cross at some point. Who will come out on top is anyone's guess. Yet there is always a huge loyalty running through each character and those loyalties go deep. Can they every be broken? Those boundaries once crossed can never be undone! True edge of your seat writing that just holds you until the shocking end.

This is definitely a series that needs you read each book. The characters and drama builds in each book and leads us to, thankfully tied up loose ends and you finally can make links back to the first books and it brings everything together superbly. Honestly this is gangland crime thriller writing at its absolute best and a series that needs to be read.

Wow what a final book to the allegiance series. It’s been great following all the characters some I loved and some I loved to hate. Sam certainly had a rollercoaster of a ride through this series but I’m glad she had her Mum and her adoptive Mum by her side supporting her all the way. I highly recommend this series and I look forward to what Edie has for us next.

Judgement by Edie Baylis
(The Allegiance Series)
Book 5 of 5
A Gritty Gangland Thriller set in Birmingham.
"You think it's okay to take everything, leaving nothing for anyone else?" Her eyes gleamed with malevolence, "Well it's not, none of it's okay and you'll soon learn that." This time, the bitch would not outsmart her, and that was a promise.
I initially thought this would be a story about a sister's revenge, but it is so much more. All the ends of this series are tied up one by one, and wow, what a fabulous, explosive ending to this gripping series.
So many twists and turns, brutal shocking endings and new beginnings, but will the Stoker's survive to continue the legacy that made them a name to respect and fear simultaneously, or does their past catch up with them, and are they finally ousted and replaced?
The characters are brilliant and so realistic that you get really immersed in their lives and what is happening around them. Edie's descriptive writing keeps this fast-paced thriller compelling right until the last page.
Will Marina finally get her revenge on Samantha? Will Seb and Samantha have their happy ending?
A tremendous gripping thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed.
The whole series has been satisfying to read, and all the books are captivating and thrilling in their own right.
Although this can be read as a standalone, I suggest you read the whole series from the beginning to maximise your enjoyment of these grippy thrillers.
Book 1 - Payback Book 2 - Take Over
Book 3 - Fallout Book 4 - Vendetta
and Book 5 - Judgement.
I want to thank Publishers Boldwood Books, Author Edie Baylis and Rachel's Random Resources for the invite and a copy of the book to read and review.

My Thoughts:
I have really enjoyed this series. I’ve read all the books and this one might be the best.
I feel I know the know the characters and I am invested in them and their relationship.
What revenge can do to a person. You can read this as a stand-alone if you want but as always I recommend you start with book one Takeover

So much has happened since the start of this excellent saga and I really would recommend reading these stories right from the start to learn about all the history between these characters, especially as it’s impossible to talk about it without revealing what has gone before. As this book begins, everyone believes Tom Bedworth and Potter Ross are dead when actually they are hiding out in Telford. Potter is drifting in and out of lucidity, planning to avenge his brother Mark’s death while Tom is determined to get back his money stolen by the Stokers in the heist. Tina is keeping a low profile after stealing cash and running away from Sam, and is now just waiting to get justice for her mother’s death. Lynda is recovered from her horrific imprisonment at Tom’s hands, reunited with Vera and happily living with her children at Gloria’s, and Seb and Sam are just about to be married, keeping Sam’s pregnancy a secret for now. Sophie, Mickey Devlin’s ex-girlfriend, has fallen in love with Andrew Stoker and he also with her, although neither knows the truth about the other’s identity, Sophie keeping schtum about her history when Marina Devlin made her an accomplice to Dan’s death. Marina herself is running a high class bar in Marbella, keeping an eye on the news in Birmingham with only one thing on her mind – to ruin her sister Sam for once and for all. Once again, as this story begins, everyone is set on a collision path which will have devastating consequences for many. Who will get their retribution and who will get their just desserts?
There is everything - action, love, loyalty, betrayal and bloodshed - in this final instalment of a great gritty gangland thriller series, full of twists, high stakes and unexpected turns in the lives of the Stokers, Reynolds and all those whose lives have become intertwined with them and whose enemies are never far away. After four previous books, the main characters are very well known to the reader, and despite their sometimes less than palatable activities I always find myself rooting for Sam, Seb and their families, who are really very likeable in comparison to the real “baddies”, some of whom are the most loathsome creatures imaginable! This really has been a phenomenal series from start to finish and I’m going to miss these guys a lot!

What are you doing to me, Edie!! What a firecracker of a book!! I love this series and I actually never want it to end, although I do think Sam and Seb need a break lol.

From a beginning with an awful character to the story that blew me away and to a shocking ending where you wondered if Edie would go full-on dark!

I thought it was just brilliant. I love Edie’s writing, world-building, and the intensity of the story. Boy, it was intense!! The character, although they have evolved over the series, they do revert back to basics with their primal instincts! I love that Seb is protective of Sam, overly sometimes but it worked out for the best that he is!

I don’t want to spoil any of the books, but if you have read the others in the series you are in for a rip-roaring intense roller coaster of a ride! I listened to the audiobook as I love Annie’s narration, she brings these epic characters to life, and boy does she!

So many shocks and twists and my head is reeling! I did feel for Sam with everything that came to head, boy does she have a lot to process!

God I do hope there is more to come; I love these characters, the family and I am not ready to say goodbye! This is easily one of my favourite books this year!

The fifth book in the Allegiance Series sees Sam and Seb planning their wedding. Has the time come for them to finally get their happy ever after? Or is that too simple for this pair?

I have followed this series from the start, so I was expecting the let downs, manipulations, and the negative issues that have surrounded both Sam and Seb. There is no let up in Judgement.

I love dark and gritty stories, and this is a series that is both. Edie Baylis has managed to create some loathsome characters. I love to hate them. It adds so much to the story. The fact I lived and breathed Seb and Sam throughout the books meant I was invested in the outcome of this final book! So invested I couldn't put it down.

Every book is unique, and each one is original. Judgement is the best out of them all. That's not to say all of the books aren't great. This one just had an edge, which I revelled in from the start. I'm really eager to see what Edie Baylis has in the pipeline next! She is up there with Mandasue Heller,Kimberley Chambers, and Heather Burnside. An author who knows her stuff!
Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books and NetGalley.

Judgement
Edie Baylis
Pub Date: July 31, 2023
BoldWood Books
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
This is the 5th book in the Allegiance Series, but. New author for me. I would recommend reading the books in order.
The writing style hooked me and I am glad I asked for this one. Themes- family and loyalty
The development between Reynolds and Stokers is well written.
Trigger: some scenes are graphic as to be expected in a gangland thriller
4 stars

Judgement is book 5 in The Allegiance series. I've not read Book 1, but I've read all the subsequent books in the series. This is not at all my usual genre, but having read book 2, I was entirely hooked and have been enjoying the series ever since.

I really adore the tight plot lines and the fact that Edie so carefully lays the breadcrumbs and then leads the reader on. The premise for this one is that only one of the half-sisters can survive, and there are times when as despicable as Marina is, you're not entirely sure you want it to be Samantha either, and that is the joy of this book and this set of characters. When I read book 2, I said that none of the characters is likeable, and they're not - they don't really have any redeeming qualities -supposed goodies or supposed baddies - they're all up to no good. And yet at the same time, you can't stop reading about them:)

A really fabulous series - even for those who wouldn't usually read Gangland - such as me. Highly recommended. The storyline is tight and twisty, and the outcome is never assured. Great entertainment.

This book can be read as a stand-alone read, however it is the last book in a series and it’s throughly enjoyable! Gangland crime novel at its best!!

I have only recently discovered the genre of gangland thrillers and I am so annoyed because I really didn't know what I was missing. I have to say that it's now my favourite genre and books like Judgement remind me why. In Judgement Samantha and Seb are looking forward to there future together but Samantha's sister Devina is out for blood. This book is everything a gangland thriller should be it's unrelenting, hard and tough. It has revenge, crime, violence and redemption and I for one could not get enough.

This exciting gangland thriller is the perfect conclusion to the Allegiance series, as Baylis delivers another five-star read. The story continues to focus on family loyalty and familiar characters, making it a gripping and captivating read. It is fast-paced, dramatic and highly addictive, making it the best book in the series.

Although 'Judgement' can be read as a standalone, I would suggest reading the series in order to understand the characters' actions and history. This book offers great entertainment, and it would make a fantastic screen adaption.

If you are yet to read anything by this author, I highly recommend giving this series a try. With each new release, the writing continues improving, and I eagerly anticipate future works.

An epic and thrilling conclusion to the Allegiance series!

Judgement is book five, and Sam Reynold and Seb Stoker are on the brink of getting their happy ending. But leave it to estranged and jealous family members and enemies, throwing one last punch to derail this union. The writing style hooked me from page one, and Edie Baylis does a fantastic job of tying multiple characters together in a high-stake plot. Family and loyalty are the key themes of the gangland romance, and the development between the Reynolds and Stokers is well-written. While this book qualifies as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the previous books to better understand relationships and motives. Overall, I devoured this book in two sittings; the ending was endearing and heartwarming. Readers be warned that some scenes are graphic, which is expected in a gangland thriller.

Thank you, NetGalley & Boldwood Books, for giving me an e-ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily.

What an ending to a brilliant series. Fast paced, gritty and at times shocking this kept me hooked from page one. I’ve really enjoyed following Sam and Serb’s story and there was no way of knowing how this was going to end. Sam Reynolds and Seb Stoker are getting married but of course things aren’t going to go to plan. There were many twists and turns in this gripping, intense gangland thriller. I would recommend reading the others in the series as there are references to previous events and how the characters are linked but Edie Baylis does a good job of weaving in everyone’s connections. Absolutely brilliant and I would highly recommend! Thanks to Boldwood Books, Netgalley and to Edie Baylis for writing and sharing such a great series!

Thank you netgallery for allowing me to read this book love edie bayliss and the whole allegiance series and what a last book in the series.
Sam and seb are planning their wedding what could go wrong?
A load of enemies maybe.who is the secret woman andrew stoker has hidden .
everyone is after payback were is sam evil sister is she after revenge on sam ofcourse she does..
will sam find out who her father is all those questions will be answered .
Abrilliant fast paced roller coaster of a read from a brilliant and compelling author five stars if not ten stars from me.
cannot waitee for edies next book get it you wont regret it and you will be reading all of her books.

When Sam Reynolds first discovered what her father did for a living, it was an eye-opener to say the least. Not one to shy away, she decided to follow in his footsteps. Along the way, she met Seb Stoker from a rival family. Together they have made themselves an unstoppable force. Over the series, the lives of Sam, Seb, family, friends, acquaintances and enemies have all been wrapped in together. The two of them are well-matched, but things are going to get more tense in this story than they have ever been before.

Family come in all shapes and sizes and with different temperaments and personalities. Marina is not the same as Sam, but she does have ruthlessness to her. Seb has his brothers and even they are going to be stretched to breaking point if they are not careful. Tina is trying her best, Linda still has work to do and Vera is waiting to put things to rest. In case you may have not realised, this book marks "the final encounter" and the author has pulled all the stops out for this book.

She has woven characters and storylines into and around each other. There have been strands and threads left tantalisingly to be pulled together. How this is done for this story is brilliant. It does make it a more complex story compared to some of the other books, but my goodness it is done so well! With so many things being juggled and characters that had to have their say, the author has worked wonders.

This is a gangland thriller and there is a certain sense of loyalty and family is important. Family is something that has been a focus of the story and it is more prominent in this one as everyone is being caught up and being pulled like puppets by other characters. It really is a story that leaves you breathless, well it did me as I was racing through the book to find out what was going to happen.

With gangland crime, you are going to get some brutality at some point. Yes, you get it in this book and it is indeed brutal, but also in keeping with how the characters have developed over the previous books. This is where I am going to say that yes, you really should read this series in order as there are some references that go back to the first book that are finally acknowledged and brought out in the open in the story.

A fabulous book, fabulous series and if you love gangland crime and thriller then I would definitely recommend it.