Friday 1 July 2016

Book Review & Giveaway: VALENTINA BY S.E. LYNES (Intelligent Psychological Thriller)


When Glasgow journalist Shona McGilvery moves with her partner Mikey and their baby to an idyllic cottage in rural Scotland, they believe that all that lies ahead of them is happiness.

But with Mikey working offshore, the frightening isolation of the Aberdeenshire countryside begins to drive her insane...

That is, until she is rescued by a new friendship with the enchanting Valentina. 

She has the perfect home, the perfect man, and a charismatic new best friend – or does she?

As her fairytale life begins to unravel, the deep dark wood becomes the least of her fears...


Published:  1 July 2016
Publisher:  Blackbird Books





This is a slow burner of a book ..... it starts off by smouldering a little, flickering on and off, as the flames of passion ignite, sparks flare, gradually building to an inferno .... and by the end I was left gasping for air!

Narrated by Shona, a journalist from Glasgow, she moves to an isolated cottage in Aberdeen with her partner, Mikey, and baby daughter.  While Mikey is away for weeks on end on the oil rigs Shona is left all alone and a little scared .... until one day she bumps into Valentina, another lonely first time mum.  They immediately strike up a friendship, and Shona starts to settle down in her new surroundings.

The story went back and forth to build up a picture of how Shona and Mikey first met, how they fell in love and decided to move away for a new start.  

But, slowly, somethings don't seem to add up to Shona, while she feels reassured by answers she is given there is still niggling doubts in her head....about Valentina's life, is she who she says she is.....

It then became unsettling and unnerving with a sense of foreboding, I loved how I never really knew what was real and what wasn't, I could guess but I was unprepared for the twists and turns. 

The writing was so descriptive, the character of Shona was very real, and the storyline so disturbing that I can't stop thinking about it.

A brilliant debut - I can't wait to see what S.E. Lynes comes up with next!

A huge thank you to Blackbird Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book.  They have also very kindly donated three digital copies for a giveaway!  Entry is by Rafflecopter below.


  • Open worldwide
  • Three digital copies to be won
  • Once the giveaway has ended I will contact the winners and will pass their details on to the publishers
  • Good Luck!





a Rafflecopter giveaway

I have listed this giveaway at ThePrizeFinder and Loquax

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