VBT# Review: The Stranger Inside - Ruth Harrow - September 2025  Lately, I’ve found myself drifting away from romance reads. Maybe it’s the season, maybe it’s just reader fatigue—but psychological thrillers have become my go-to comfort genre. There’s something oddly satisfying about curling up with a cuppa and diving into a story that grips you from page one and doesn’t let go until the final twist. The Stranger Inside by Ruth Harrow was exactly that kind of read—one I devoured in a single sitting, blanket wrapped around me, heart racing. We meet Zoe, a woman trying to rebuild her life after escaping an abusive relationship. She’s found solace in an online forum, offering advice to others in similar situations. It’s raw, real, and sadly relatable. One post catches her eye—a woman claiming her husband is controlling, even making her take photos in the supermarket. It’s eerie, and when Zoe spots someone doing just that in real life, she wonders: could this be the same woman? Her curi...

Review: The Sleepwalker - Ian Blackwood - May 2025 Lately, I’ve been riding a thrilling wave of psychological suspense, and thanks to Zooloo’s Book Tours—who specialize in gripping thriller reads—I’ve discovered some absolute gems. One standout is The Sleepwalker by Ian Blackwood, an ARC I couldn’t put down. This intense psychological thriller reminded me of Anna O by Matthew Blake with hints of Megan Goldin’s Stay Awake —a chilling mix of sleep disorders, unreliable perception, and dangerous secrets. Dr. Ellie Thompson is the kind of protagonist who pulls you in immediately. A successful doctor, Ellie has always battled vivid nightmares. But now, those nightmares are seeping into her waking life. She finds blood on her hands, shards of glass in her bed, and knives under her pillow—without any memory of how they got there. As her grip on reality loosens, Ellie becomes desperate for answers, yet fearful of seeking help. After all, speaking to a therapist could mean suspension from h...

Review: The Dream Wedding - Renita D'Silva - May 2025 What should have been the happiest day of Sam’s life turns into a nightmare — and sets her on an unexpected, dangerous path. In The Dream Wedding, Sam is about to marry a wealthy Indian man at a luxurious seven-star resort in Cornwall, a far cry from the life she ever imagined for herself. But Sam is hiding a dark secret: her real name is Maisy, and she once served time in prison for the murder of her parents — or so she has been led to believe. Renita D’Silva delivers a slow-burning psychological thriller packed with gaslighting, deception, and class tension. Sam has been doing her best to live quietly, until her world is upended by falling in love with a wealthy playboy who seems to worship her. Yet as their wedding approaches, anonymous threats about her hidden past begin to surface. Should she tell her fiancé the truth? Would he still love her — or would he walk away, shattering her world once again? Meeting her soon-to-be m...

Title: Manipulation Author: Jo Michaels Genre: Psychological Thriller Editor: Tia Silverthorne Bach with INDIE Books Gone Wild Publication Date: October 1 st , 2019 Hosted by: Lady Amber's PR Blurb: What would cause a woman to brutally murder a man she loves? January hits the big time when she marries millionaire Warren Vanderhorn. With looks, money, and charisma, he's the ideal GQ cover guy. When he ends up murdered, all signs point to her as the perpetrator. As she uncovers some of Warren's long-hidden secrets, suspects start popping out of the woodwork, and her own history with violence starts making her question herself. People she thinks she knows—and trusts—turn out to be liars who keep things from her. Everyone around her suddenly has a reason to want Warren dead, but she's the only one who was there that night. Now, she's questioning everything, even her own sanity, as her life unravels. NOW LIVE   Jo Michaels loves writin...

Review: Winner Take All - Laurie Devore - January 2018 I was drawn to this book by the bright colors on the cover, and that does sound corny since there are matches on the cover of the book . In this book, we meet Nell who is very competitive and seems like your strong feminist type who won't put up with anything. She is in to win and currently sits at second on the grades scoreboard. Her mother is the first female principal of her school and she feels it is her responsibility to be the best. Coming first is Jackson, he is the guy everyone wants to be and the guy every girl wants to be with . He is also smart and wealthy. Nell is the only one who doesn't crumble under his spell when he challenges Nell that he can make her fall in love with him. Nell is not backing down from the challenge accepts. Of course we see Nell's personality starting to change when she's around him, and unfortunately, Jackson will prove Nell wrong as he twists and manipulates her and...

Review: The Evolution of Ivy - Antidote - Book #2 The Evolution of Ivy - Lauren Campbell - September 2017 For those who haven't read the first book, then stop reading as this is one series you have to read to understand the story and the character's reasoning behind everything.  Emily is Ivy, and she is well on her way to finally winning Brooks after she managed to break up Brooks and Eliza's engagement. It seems that finally, she is going to get her HEA with this book and we readers learn more about Ivy and Brooks's relationship growing up. Also, Kate from their high school makes an appearance as Brooks current friends with benefits and another one who played a part when they were younger in destroying Ivy and Brooks relationship. What happens when it seems that just as Emily and Brooks may get their HEA, he learned about the Ivy-Emily deception and then wham bam Emily/Ivy gets amnesia? I loved this series but have to admit, in parts Book #2 felt a little drawn out a...

  Review: Fearless - Book #1 Fearless Series - Annie Jocoby - July 2014 Daliah Gallagher had it all when she was younger as an art prodigy until one day , she lost all of her inspiration . Wanting to escape from that world, she moved to New York to find her muse and became a model and nude model for Art Students. During this time , she is met by Blake Nottingham who we later discover is a CEO , at the first meeting we think he is just an admirer but later down the track he becomes a bit of a full on stalker. He has hired Luke , to paint a full nude portrait of Dalilah and is willing to pay the big bucks for it. What will happen though when Luke and Daliah agree and start spending intimate time together during the project. This of course leads to a secret romance, that we note that Blake Nottingham isn't very pleased about and he starts to show his true colours of a nasty manipulator and dominant. This book does contain a bit of BDSM to it and shows just how easy one c...