Till death us do part....

This is one of those books where you say to yourself just one more chapter.

Nicci and Ethan are driving home one night when they have a terrible accident. They are due to get married in three days time so rather than report it they decide to forever keep it a secret between themselves and even have it said in their wedding vows.

We are kept guessing who we can and can't trust, secrets are revealed and lives are at risk.

I really enjoyed this book but to be honest I had to lose a star as the ending was far fetched and unrealistic but up to that point I'm was absolutely loving it. I would still highly recommend this book, it is a pageturner and a fun read.

Another Absolutely Fantastic Title From Rona Halsall!!!
Bride and Groom was has an excellent Thriller storyline to get you hooked line and sinker.
It gets 5 stars from me!!

Another brilliant read by Rona Halsall, I’ve read many of Rona’s books and they never disappoint and bride and groom is no exception.

Nicci and Ethan are about to be married, however they have a hit and run crime looming over them, if the truth comes out then both of them could face a prison sentence. Even though she had her doubts Nicci goes ahead and marries Ethan and soon he is made a director of the company owned by Niccis father.

Soon after they are married Nicci realises there is more to Ethan than the man she thought she had married, he has a cold and dark side. Nicci realises Ethan has been hiding secrets from her and that he has his own hidden agenda.

When the guilt from the hit and run becomes too much for her Nicci decides it’s time to confess and from this point things go from bad to worse for her and more of Ethan’s dark side is revealed, it seems he will go to extreme measures to keep the truth hidden and stop his secrets from being revealed.

What I really loved about bride and groom is that it was a real page turner right from the start. A proper who dun it. With so many deceptions, lies, twists and secrets I had no idea what way this book was going to go next.

Without giving anything away I will say I loved the ending I thought it was a perfect fitting and every character in this book seemed to get exactly what they deserved.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for this review.

When Nicci and Ethan make their vows to one another on their wedding day, only they know the real meaning and weight behind them. Underneath her smile, Nicci’s heart is pounding with fear because she and Ethan have just vowed to never reveal that they were responsible for the hit and run that took a man’s life. But Nicci can’t shake her guilt. Or the worry that someone else might know their secret. And she’s beginning to wonder if her new husband is who she thinks he is…

Well, Rona Halsall did it again. She jumps straight into the intense action and a feeling of foreboding hovered over every page of this story. I will confess that I thought I had this all figured out and it seemed like it was a predictable read. I should have known better. Ms. Halsall pulled me in hook, line and sinker, and just as I totally relaxed in the knowledge that I knew where this was heading…Bam! I’m smacked in the face by a delicious curveball that changed everything I thought I knew and reminded me why she’s the queen of misdirection. Rona, I am sorry I ever doubted you. From that moment on it was a tense rollercoaster ride where I held on for dear life as she took me from one shocking revelation to another.

There are some deep topics explored in the story such as toxic relationships, coercive control, and, of course, moral dilemmas. And this story provided one of the biggest moral dilemmas Ms. Halsall has written yet: should Nicci confess that she and Ethan were responsible for the hit and run that night to ease her torment, or should she keep her vow of silence? Halsall expertly wrote Nicci’s internal torture over her dilemma and I felt everything alongside her at every turn. A people pleaser who struggles with anxiety, Nicci was easy to relate to and I was cheering her on as she found her inner strength as the story went on. But this is a dual narrative and Ethan’s voice was very different. Just as brilliantly written, I loathed this manipulative man. He was a great, but stark, contrast to Nicci and as his secrets were slowly revealed he got more and more chilling.

So if you want a compelling, unpredictable and ominous thriller, this is the book for you.

Oh wow, absolutely triple wow. This was a truly magnificent read, loved it from start to finish.

Rona has such a way with words that she just draws you in right from the beginning, keeps you enthralled throughout and leaves you with bated breath right to the very end. Which is exactly what she did with this amazing book.

I was completely captivated by the story and the characters, all of which was so very well written. Although it was a constant battle as to whether certain characters could be trusted or not, trying to figure out what their ultimate goal was or end game was, what secrets they were hiding.

So if you are looking for a book that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat in eager anticipation as to what will happen next and be completely captivated throughout, then you really need to read this book.

Thank you Netgalley, Rona Halsall, and Bookouture for the thrilling ebook!! Rona never disappoints!! If you love a good binge worthy thriller, Rona is your girl and this book was definitely one of my favorites!! All the crazy twists and turns had me turning the pages late at night! A must read!

There are twists and turns galore in this book where we meet Nicci and her husband Ethan. While not the fastest paced book, there are twists, turns, lies, deceit, betrayal, manipulation, and suspense. I patiently waited while the plot built up and I got to know the characters. There were some very unlikeable characters in this one. Moral dilemma after moral dilemma, it appears the wrong choice was made every time. I did enjoy watching Nicci's growth as a person throughout he book. She started off meek and mild, and by the end of the book, she's a fierce, strong woman.

The second half of the book picked up, and I found myself entranced in the plot and all the drama. I just had to get to the end to know what happened. I found my mouth hanging open at some of the twists that developed in the second half of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. You're literally my fave publisher at this point!

This book was just okay . Very predictable and easy to tell what the twists would be. I struggled with the pacing throughout most of this story and it just wasn’t what I expected.

A riveting story that is a must read. The story has all the element for a perfect thriller. I absolutely loved

I do like this author, her stories get very dark!
The first few chapters of this book weren't quite what I was expecting, it was all a bit flowery and romantic. But then you find out what had been happening behind the scenes and you wonder why on earth was a wedding taking place at at all!
Some very dodgy characters lead to a great family drama. I am not a big fan of drawn out fight scenes where people find miraculous strength to overcome their attackers and these parts didn't really work for me. I prefer the menacing threats than the actual violent scenes.
I did enjoy this story but it was awfully sad at times! I didn't really work out where the story was going until more than half way through.
Very enjoyable domestic noir.

This book was amazing!! Full of family drama, lies, secrets, and betrayal, this one has it all!

Hold on to your chairs for this ride. It is fast paced and when you think you know where it's going, get ready to have the unexpected thrown at you. There were so many well plotted twists and turns I felt like I was on a roller-coaster ride.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced digital copy of this book

They made a vow...they'll kill to keep it...

Walking down the aisle, Nicci pondered as to whether she was doing to right thing. Three nights ago something happened that threatened to rock their world as they knew it. Ethan convinced her not to confess because so much was riding on their wedding and the future before them. They would break so many hearts. Her father would never look at her the same way again. So Nicci agreed. But was it the right thing to do?

As she walks down the aisle, she wonders...does anyone else know what they've done? And then come the threats, the blackmail...someone saw something. Nicci is beside herself. Who can she trust with her secret? But Ethan made her promise...it was written in their vows...to keep their secret...until death parts them. And so she's trapped.

It's clear from the outset that Nicci is struggling with what happened just before their wedding but Ethan is there to calm her and settle her nerves. But then she begins to question everything she thought she knew? How on earth can she live with herself? How can she make it right?

As the story unfolds we learn more about Nicci, Ethan and Stacey. And not all of it good. I was blindsided by what happened (not often that happens...lol) so it may well take you by surprise. And I loved how the ending tied everything up neatly so that there was nothing left to chance.

Plenty of twists, plenty of red herrings, plenty of secrets and lies. Definitely a riveting read that I devoured in one sitting.

I would like to thank #RonaHalsall, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #BrideAndGroom in exchange for an honest review.

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

They said 'til death do they part. He meant it.

Nicci and Ethan are only days away from their wedding. They should be looking excitingly toward their future, but instead they are rewriting their vows to cover up a hit-and-run accident that could land someone in the cemetery -- and Nicci and Ethan in jail. Wrapping her in his love and support as he always has, Ethan promises her it will all be okay as long they keep what happened as their secret. But Nicci is racked with guilt. Keeping her vows won't be easy. After all, there are more secrets she's keeping than the accident. And as they become husband and wife, she starts to suspect Ethan has more secrets he's keeping from her too.

Ethan's finally found the success he always craved. Never able to make his father proud, he's Nicci's father's pride and joy. First, he was the star employee, bringing in new ideas to help the business grow. But marrying Nicci will make him the cherished son-in-law too -- and the managing director of the family business. However, the accident could put all that in jeopardy. His fiancé-turned-bride has a case of conscience and wants to turn herself in. He'll do anything to keep the life he has. Anything. Even if it means another accident. Even if it means forcing his bride to keep her vows in ways she never dreamed he would.

Ultra-addicting, suspenseful, and make you gasp-out-loud good, "Bride and Groom" by Rona Halsall is packed with so many twists that you need a motion sickness pill to get through it. It feels like such a straight-forward book. In fact, it seems like you have it all figured out every few chapters (or thereabouts). But hold onto your stomach, because that's when it happens. An unexpected twist throws you through a loop... again and again. It's a typical Rona Halsall novel, and it's brilliant. There are so many red herrings in this book to keep you going down the wrong path each time, you start to crave fish for dinner. But of course, there's no time for dinner, because you can't put the book down.

Told from both Nicci and Ethan's points of view, "Bride and Groom" is as fraught with tension as it is twisty. Faster paced, it's a well-developed story with well-developed characters. Starting out as suspenseful and mysterious and growing into the kind of creepy that makes your breath get caught in your throat, it keeps you glued to your seat. Before knocking you off it with the mind-blowing ending, that is. The ending of "Bride and Groom" isn't just shocking or satisfying, though. It's explosive. There are so many shocks to enjoy. So many final twists to satisfy you. It's like a firework show in a nighttime sky.

Honestly, I've never read a Rona Halsall book I didn't love. "Bride and Groom" is no exception. Read it. You must.

Bride and Groom by Rona Halsall is a well written twisty story which is made even more interesting due to the characters and a surprise ending that I didn't see coming.
I was instantly pulled into this one. Halsall hooked me, held my attention hostage and kept me on edge until the very last page.
This was so much fun to read. It starts out quickly and increases in tension at a rapid pace.
It kept me entertained, on the edge of my seat, and wanting to know what happens next.

Thank You NetGalley and Bookouture for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

What a great read. The beginning, the middle, but oh the end!
This is an excellent rollercoaster of a thriller.
Nicci and Ethan are getting married but nights before their wedding something dreadful happens which spoils the day and will possibly spoil the rest of Nicci’s life too.
Struggling to come to terms with the situation she quickly realises that her friends are not who she thought they were, her husband is not who she thought he was, and that she loves someone else.
As circumstances escalate the tension builds as twist after twist presents itself.
Another brilliant read from the queen of suspense that is Rona Halsall

I found this book a good thriller but not brilliant. The bride and groom are Nicci and Ethan who seem to be totally happy together. I must admit I had my doubts about Ethan from the start but was I right? There are some shocks and a good ending.

Exciting domestic thriller. Shocking twists and mystery with cunning and manipulative characters. I think it's the same old story but with the different spin. Nicci's character was strong, and I was rooting for her to escape Ethan from the start. Twisted minds. The pace was good and the climax was great. Recommended to the mystery thrillers fan. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

A psychological thriller with plenty twists to keep you reading on. Newly weds who share an awful secret and have a few of their own - didn’t sound like a good match from the beginning.
Nicci and Ethan vowed to keep their secret til death they do part, one wanted to confess, the other desperate to keep up appearances and live their dream life.

Another great book by Rona!

Book Title: Bride and Groom
Author: Rona Halsall
Publisher: Bookouture
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Pub Date: April 5, 2024
My Rating: 3.6 rounded up
Pages: 321

This is my third Rona Halsall| story, the first was "The Bigamist" which I thought was great.
So I knew I wanted to read whatever she wrote next!

Nicci and Ethan are the Bride and Groom in this story. Their wedding day should be the happiest day of their lives. As Nicci is walking down the aisle her heart is pounding with fear as she is worried someone witnessed what they did. So when they exchange their vows- they have an additional vow; they promise never to say or do anything that would harm the other - thus keep their secret a secret.

We learn they were involved in a hit-and-run accident a few days before their wedding. They were attending a pre-wedding party with friends and both had been drinking a lot. They decided the trip home was only 15 minutes they would be fine. However, while Nicci is driving Ethan grabs the wheel as an accident is about to happen.

Nikki is a mess and wants to confess her role in the accident.
I thought Okay - the end!
But secrets and lies pop up and I am hooked – I am a big psychological thriller fan and the big draw is trying to figure out whodunit. So No it wasn’t “The End” so I had another glass of wine and read on.

Story was indeed a family drama that kept me reading.

I always like reading the Author’s note – in this case Rona makes a personal comment in her Acknowledgements – She tells us that this was her first story after her husband died. She admits it was a struggle but once she becomes immersed the characters takes over and it was good for her to get lost in the story which helped her through such a very sad time.

Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for granting me this thriller.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 5, 2024.

In the book Bride And Groom by Rona Halsall we meet Nixie and Eathan a couple on the eve at their wedding when they’re on a short drive home from her best friends house where they were celebrating the event they accidentally hit a man. Nixie is obviously upset but Eathan keeps his head on straight and explains all the ramifications that would be if they called the police but luckily someone has done it for them. They do their best to MoveOn and promise even in their wedding vows that they will keep their secret for life. After all they both work for Nixie‘s father‘s company and he is growing very close to Eathan but unfortunately they are not the only two that know the secret. Nixie and Eathan seemingly have a perfect marriage it’s too bad one of them is only pretending and by the time it’s over they will have multiple accidents someone will be dead in the police are going to be sick of seeing them. I want to state upfront I absolutely love Rona Halsalls books her books are usually among my favorite and although I did like this one and it was very twisty I just felt they repeated things a lot the characters were not likable at all but as far as it good thriller I don’t think you can ever go wrong with one of this authors books as I only found this one OK it’s still better than other authors best efforts. I want to thank Bookoucher and Net Galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.