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The Working Girls #1
The Mark
The queen of urban crime is back with a shocking, brilliant new series – The Working Girls...
A TRIP TO THE DARK SIDE.
When respected journalist, Maddy, goes to interview prostitutes in a rundown Manchester pub, she doesn't reckon on attracting the attention of their ruthless pimp, Gilly. He quickly decides to use Maddy for his own gains; he just needs to work out how.
A TOXIC AFFAIR.
In the weeks that follow, Maddy is oblivious to Gilly's growing obsession with her, particularly when she begins a romance with successful businessman, Aaron. Their passionate love affair starts to dominate her life, and she finds herself losing control and alienating the people around her.
A TARGET ON HER BACK.
As Maddy's safe and successful life starts to crumble around her, she must quickly work out who has it in for her, before it's too late...
Heather Burnside is back with this breath-taking, heart-racing new series, perfect for all fans of Kimberley Chambers and Martina Cole.
362 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 13, 2019
About the author
Heather Burnside
18 books113 followersHeather Burnside grew up in Gorton, a working-class area of Manchester famed as the original location for the TV series, Shameless. She moved from Gorton to a new housing development and spent her teenage years on one of the toughest estates in Manchester.
During the 1990s the estate became the headquarters for one of Manchester’s predominant gangs. It regularly featured in the local press due to shootings and drug-related problems. Heather draws heavily on this background as the setting for many of her novels.
After taking a career break to raise two children Heather enrolled on a creative writing course. During that time she had many articles published in well-known magazines and went on to run a writing services business before focusing on her novels.
Heather now works full-time on her novels from her home in Manchester which she shares with her two grown-up children.
You can find out more about Heather’s books by signing up to her mailing list at: http://eepurl.com/CP6YP to receive regular updates, or by viewing her website: www.heatherburnside.com.
During the 1990s the estate became the headquarters for one of Manchester’s predominant gangs. It regularly featured in the local press due to shootings and drug-related problems. Heather draws heavily on this background as the setting for many of her novels.
After taking a career break to raise two children Heather enrolled on a creative writing course. During that time she had many articles published in well-known magazines and went on to run a writing services business before focusing on her novels.
Heather now works full-time on her novels from her home in Manchester which she shares with her two grown-up children.
You can find out more about Heather’s books by signing up to her mailing list at: http://eepurl.com/CP6YP to receive regular updates, or by viewing her website: www.heatherburnside.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
June 2, 2019
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 4
Maddie is a reporter who is currently interviewing prostitutes for a feature she is writing. She has an eight year old daughter. Whilst interviewing the prostitutes, she meets their pimp, a man called Gilly. Maddie is oblivious to Gilly's growing obsession with her. Arron, a successful businessman seems to be the perfect gentleman to Maddie. But Arron had a dark side, a side he only shows to Beccy. Maddie is besotted with Arron and won't listen to her ex-husband or her best friend who Maddie thinks is just jealous.
The story was a bit slow at times and I did not really like any of the characters. I did feel sorry for Beccy and I do know a few women who put relationships before family. Because the blurb said for fans of Kimberley Chambers and Martina Cole I was expecting something a bit more gritty, dark and an edge of your seat read. Maybe I was expecting too much!
I would like to thank NetGalley, Aria and the author Heather Burnside for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Maddie is a reporter who is currently interviewing prostitutes for a feature she is writing. She has an eight year old daughter. Whilst interviewing the prostitutes, she meets their pimp, a man called Gilly. Maddie is oblivious to Gilly's growing obsession with her. Arron, a successful businessman seems to be the perfect gentleman to Maddie. But Arron had a dark side, a side he only shows to Beccy. Maddie is besotted with Arron and won't listen to her ex-husband or her best friend who Maddie thinks is just jealous.
The story was a bit slow at times and I did not really like any of the characters. I did feel sorry for Beccy and I do know a few women who put relationships before family. Because the blurb said for fans of Kimberley Chambers and Martina Cole I was expecting something a bit more gritty, dark and an edge of your seat read. Maybe I was expecting too much!
I would like to thank NetGalley, Aria and the author Heather Burnside for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 21, 2019
If you have read Heather Burnside’s previous books and trilogy’s then you know exactly what to expect...a hard hitting urban gritty tale with larger than life characters, full on action and relentless drama
If these books and this genre is one you love then this book is perfect in every way
This book is about Maddy, a investigative journalist, who goes about looking into local prostitution...and ends up biting off more than she can chew, as it were, and lives to regret her decisions!
The story means we are introduced to Ruby and Crystal who I see are the focus of Book 2 and 3 which means you are already intrigued about them and their pasts and ready for the next books
All the characters are wonderfully and brightly portrayed and my only criticism is that Maddy, a journalist, really should have known to look more into the life and past of the bloke Aaron she becomes entangled with, but there you go, she didnt and so the story evolves
Little more to add and marking it highly as have said for this genre and lovers of it is fabulously undisputingly wild and exactly why you love reading these type of books
10/10 5 Stars
June 13, 2019
The Mark is the first book in the brand spanking new series The Working Girls, which refers to a group of prostitutes, from the author many refer to as the the Queen of gritty, gangland crime, Ms Burnside, and boy she's bloody done it again! Here, main protagonist, Maddie is jaw-droppingly naive and when her new beau Aaron begins to become totally obsessed with her she is completely blind to this and mistakenly sees the warnings both her friends and ex-partner as nothing more than the green-eyed monster and so they fall on deaf ears. Can they get their concerns to be taken seriously by her before an unhealthy relationship turns into something even more sinister?
Each instalment can be read independently of one another with no issues whatsoever. However, like many, I reckon one instalment will have you hooked and buying up every previous thriller written by Ms Burnside. If you enjoy a cast of incredibly shady, unscrupulous characters but who also retain a sense of immense loyalty to the family name this fits the bill.
There's never a dull moment and the tension is expertly ratcheted up as the story progresses. It's such an intense atmosphere as we journey with the no-nonsense cast around the mean streets as they fight for survival and to gain the upper hand over the other gangs in the area jostling for territory. When these gang-inspired reads are executed masterfully as here they have some of the most utterly compulsive and ridiculously addictive moments in all of crime fiction and Ms Burnside sits at the apex of these writers. If you are a fan of adrenaline-pumping, heart-pounding nail biters then this, in my humble opinion, is a must-read. I am already yearning for the sequel. Many thanks to Aria for an ARC.
Each instalment can be read independently of one another with no issues whatsoever. However, like many, I reckon one instalment will have you hooked and buying up every previous thriller written by Ms Burnside. If you enjoy a cast of incredibly shady, unscrupulous characters but who also retain a sense of immense loyalty to the family name this fits the bill.
There's never a dull moment and the tension is expertly ratcheted up as the story progresses. It's such an intense atmosphere as we journey with the no-nonsense cast around the mean streets as they fight for survival and to gain the upper hand over the other gangs in the area jostling for territory. When these gang-inspired reads are executed masterfully as here they have some of the most utterly compulsive and ridiculously addictive moments in all of crime fiction and Ms Burnside sits at the apex of these writers. If you are a fan of adrenaline-pumping, heart-pounding nail biters then this, in my humble opinion, is a must-read. I am already yearning for the sequel. Many thanks to Aria for an ARC.
June 7, 2019
Martina Cole is generally my go too author for this genre but I thought I'd open myself up to a change, and I'm glad I did. While Martina still holds the crown for me, Burnside is pretty good.
This book didnt grab me from the start however it did slowly reel me in and now I've finished I can say that I enjoyed it, it's a good solid three star book.
I wish Ruby had more of a role in this book though, she's a character I could get behind and I hope she appears more as the series goes on.
I feel I've come to a stage in my reading though where these lead female characters that are so needy and Male attention reliant are becoming a bore, predictable. Women needing attention from men to validate their existence has been done time and time again in novels. I'm waiting for someone to change it up, give me a needy Male lead character who needs a woman to validate him people!
This book didnt grab me from the start however it did slowly reel me in and now I've finished I can say that I enjoyed it, it's a good solid three star book.
I wish Ruby had more of a role in this book though, she's a character I could get behind and I hope she appears more as the series goes on.
I feel I've come to a stage in my reading though where these lead female characters that are so needy and Male attention reliant are becoming a bore, predictable. Women needing attention from men to validate their existence has been done time and time again in novels. I'm waiting for someone to change it up, give me a needy Male lead character who needs a woman to validate him people!
June 13, 2019
The Mark is book one in The Working Girls series.
Maddies a reporter who goes to interview prostitutes in a Manchester pub. While there Gilly the girls pimp becomes infatuated with her. Maddie herself is infatuated by Aaron a successful businessman although he isn’t all he seems to be.
Like the previous books I read by this author I really enjoyed this story. I’m so looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Quite a few years ago I read books by Kimberley Chambers and Martina Cole. Delightfully when I read my first Heather Burnside she brought me back to a time I started reading adult books and loved them. Priceless.
Maddies a reporter who goes to interview prostitutes in a Manchester pub. While there Gilly the girls pimp becomes infatuated with her. Maddie herself is infatuated by Aaron a successful businessman although he isn’t all he seems to be.
Like the previous books I read by this author I really enjoyed this story. I’m so looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Quite a few years ago I read books by Kimberley Chambers and Martina Cole. Delightfully when I read my first Heather Burnside she brought me back to a time I started reading adult books and loved them. Priceless.
March 17, 2019
3.5 stars
I was really looking forward to reading this book, and though is was good, it lacked emotion which made it for more of a boring read instead of an edge-of-your-seat, keep-you-guessing kind of book. I’m not saying the whole story was completely boring, it really wasn’t, especially the final 25% when I felt it got better, had a bit of emotion behind the words and it was suspenseful in the end. But it’s a book that you’ll guess ‘it’ right away.
The characters were pretty bad, but I think that’s because of the way they spoke or acted and it wasn’t quite realistic in places. I did like Maddy, a little bit, but found she was quite the loose cannon, easily coerced (especially for a journalist), and extremely naive considering her line of work. The other characters who surrounded her were either lacking in sense, emotion or description. I did find Crystal to be quite the perfect picture for a working girl and I think her character is the one I liked the most, along with Ruby.
The story itself was slow but in places it was rushed and confusing, but otherwise easy to follow. All the juicy drama is in the last quarter of the book and that’s what pushed my star level up. I think this author has taste for drama but not the backstory or the lead up though this book has certainly not put me off reading more. Especially now that I’ve finished this and I’m acquainted with her style of writing.
Maybe in the future, when I read this again, my views will change but for the mean time, I really wished there was more oomph and emotion behind the words on the pages.
Good story, okay characters, a ‘bored’ kinda style of writing at the beginning but gets better and more interesting halfway through.
I was really looking forward to reading this book, and though is was good, it lacked emotion which made it for more of a boring read instead of an edge-of-your-seat, keep-you-guessing kind of book. I’m not saying the whole story was completely boring, it really wasn’t, especially the final 25% when I felt it got better, had a bit of emotion behind the words and it was suspenseful in the end. But it’s a book that you’ll guess ‘it’ right away.
The characters were pretty bad, but I think that’s because of the way they spoke or acted and it wasn’t quite realistic in places. I did like Maddy, a little bit, but found she was quite the loose cannon, easily coerced (especially for a journalist), and extremely naive considering her line of work. The other characters who surrounded her were either lacking in sense, emotion or description. I did find Crystal to be quite the perfect picture for a working girl and I think her character is the one I liked the most, along with Ruby.
The story itself was slow but in places it was rushed and confusing, but otherwise easy to follow. All the juicy drama is in the last quarter of the book and that’s what pushed my star level up. I think this author has taste for drama but not the backstory or the lead up though this book has certainly not put me off reading more. Especially now that I’ve finished this and I’m acquainted with her style of writing.
Maybe in the future, when I read this again, my views will change but for the mean time, I really wished there was more oomph and emotion behind the words on the pages.
Good story, okay characters, a ‘bored’ kinda style of writing at the beginning but gets better and more interesting halfway through.
March 10, 2019
Maddy who is a reporter and her 8 years old daughter Beccy live in a beautiful detached house in a good part of Manchester.
As part of her work, she goes to the pub the rose & crown to interview prostitutes for a feature she is writing.
Whilst there she encounters crystal and a pimp named Gilly. He spots her and is enamored with her beauty and profession.
Gilly wants Maddy for himself but needs to work out a way of her noticing and fall for him,
Aaron is a successful businessman, who dresses smart, drives an expensive car and is staying in a hotel whilst he opens up a branch of his business in Manchester from his hometown. He showers Maddie with gifts, love, and security. But Aaron has a dark side to him which he shows to Beccy, frightening the child. Maddie only sees what she wants to see and ignores and rebuffs warnings and concerns from her ex-husband and her best friend Claire, who she thinks is jealous. Wanting to spend as much time as she can with Aaron, Maddy starts to miss deadlines on her work, is often late picking up Beccy from school, is sharp with her and starts to neglect her., which is completely out of character. But she is so besotted with Aaron.
I really enjoyed this book and its revelation towards the end made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. It takes us into the seedy side of prostitution and hard drugs.
Another good page turner from Heather.
As part of her work, she goes to the pub the rose & crown to interview prostitutes for a feature she is writing.
Whilst there she encounters crystal and a pimp named Gilly. He spots her and is enamored with her beauty and profession.
Gilly wants Maddy for himself but needs to work out a way of her noticing and fall for him,
Aaron is a successful businessman, who dresses smart, drives an expensive car and is staying in a hotel whilst he opens up a branch of his business in Manchester from his hometown. He showers Maddie with gifts, love, and security. But Aaron has a dark side to him which he shows to Beccy, frightening the child. Maddie only sees what she wants to see and ignores and rebuffs warnings and concerns from her ex-husband and her best friend Claire, who she thinks is jealous. Wanting to spend as much time as she can with Aaron, Maddy starts to miss deadlines on her work, is often late picking up Beccy from school, is sharp with her and starts to neglect her., which is completely out of character. But she is so besotted with Aaron.
I really enjoyed this book and its revelation towards the end made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. It takes us into the seedy side of prostitution and hard drugs.
Another good page turner from Heather.
May 18, 2023
I listened to the audio version and the narrator brought this gritty drama to life - so 5 stars for her performance. The setting is Manchester England.
Told from multiple points of view in 3rd person, this story features Maddie, a journalist and divorcee with an 8 year old daughter. The book opens at a pub, with her interviewing some hookers for an article she's writing. (Subsequent books in this series feature these other women.) Maddie leaves after the interview is finished and the women's pimp, (watching from the bar), decides he likes the look of her and he follows her home to stake out her house.
I went into the book 'blind' and I'm pleased I did. This is a drama/psychological thriller with uncomfortable and sometimes dark scenes, some violence, drug use, swearing, prostitution and a twisty and intense back story that kept me wanting to keep listening. This is a new author to me and I'll be diving into her back list. 4.5 stars.
Told from multiple points of view in 3rd person, this story features Maddie, a journalist and divorcee with an 8 year old daughter. The book opens at a pub, with her interviewing some hookers for an article she's writing. (Subsequent books in this series feature these other women.) Maddie leaves after the interview is finished and the women's pimp, (watching from the bar), decides he likes the look of her and he follows her home to stake out her house.
I went into the book 'blind' and I'm pleased I did. This is a drama/psychological thriller with uncomfortable and sometimes dark scenes, some violence, drug use, swearing, prostitution and a twisty and intense back story that kept me wanting to keep listening. This is a new author to me and I'll be diving into her back list. 4.5 stars.
August 26, 2019
The first working girls book
Maddy Chambers freelance journalist, working in Manchester, is interviewing working girls for the paper's in The Rose And Crown pub. Gilly their pimp takes an interest in Maddy playing it cool he starts watching her he wants her as his own. A well earned night out in town with her best friend Clare, Maddy meets Aaron and falls head over heels for this dream guy, love is blind. I loved this book full of action, twists, and turns. I found myself shouting at Maddy throughout this book, you stupid girl. Totally gripped into this story by this author and cannot wait now for book two.
Maddy Chambers freelance journalist, working in Manchester, is interviewing working girls for the paper's in The Rose And Crown pub. Gilly their pimp takes an interest in Maddy playing it cool he starts watching her he wants her as his own. A well earned night out in town with her best friend Clare, Maddy meets Aaron and falls head over heels for this dream guy, love is blind. I loved this book full of action, twists, and turns. I found myself shouting at Maddy throughout this book, you stupid girl. Totally gripped into this story by this author and cannot wait now for book two.
September 11, 2019
The Mark is the first book in the The working girls series. Well the first book didnot disappoint me it kept me reading from page one. What a page Turner class. Love Heather Burnside books.
June 13, 2019
Mandy starts to interview the women who are Prostitutes and Drug takers.
But Gill keeps a Rod on the girls.
Then a man called Aaron met her when she was out and then started to love her but that was what started it all off
I had an ARC from Aria
But Gill keeps a Rod on the girls.
Then a man called Aaron met her when she was out and then started to love her but that was what started it all off
I had an ARC from Aria
October 10, 2022
As an introduction to the work of Heather Burnside you could not find better…
I found this book had me full of every kind of emotion and the audiobook was wonderfully narrated by Chloe Massey one of my favourite audio books ever..
Gritty and hard hitting at times breathtaking this storyline churned up so many emotions and had me hooked right to the dramatic end.
Maddie and investigative journalist is interviewing prostitutes about their lifestyle underwear but their pimp has got his eyes on her..
In the meantime while Maddie is out for drinks with her friend Clare she spots a handsome young man by the name of Aaron, they swap telephone numbers and soon are swapping messages and it is not long before Maddie becomes besotted with this stranger. Is this a true love story or can he be too good to be true? Maddie’s best friend Clare and her ex husband Andy are not convinced and become increasingly worried about Maddie and the company she is keeping. But Maddie is in love and thinks it is just a case of the green eyed monster from Andy and Claire and will not believe that there is anything dodgy about Aaron.
The more Maddie spends time with her new lover the more her life begins to unravel she starts to lose work affecting her finances and also strange things happen around her as if somebody is out to get her. Meanwhile one of the prostitutes Crystal has had an incident with a punter and her pimp Gilly set out to get revenge how far will he go..
And will Maddie live happily ever after with this handsome stranger?
What a wonderful audiobook listen totally brilliant storyline from a truly wonderful author. Some wonderful characterisation and a wonderful plot with some truly nasty characters and characters I am so much looking forward to learning more about as the series continues…
I found this book had me full of every kind of emotion and the audiobook was wonderfully narrated by Chloe Massey one of my favourite audio books ever..
Gritty and hard hitting at times breathtaking this storyline churned up so many emotions and had me hooked right to the dramatic end.
Maddie and investigative journalist is interviewing prostitutes about their lifestyle underwear but their pimp has got his eyes on her..
In the meantime while Maddie is out for drinks with her friend Clare she spots a handsome young man by the name of Aaron, they swap telephone numbers and soon are swapping messages and it is not long before Maddie becomes besotted with this stranger. Is this a true love story or can he be too good to be true? Maddie’s best friend Clare and her ex husband Andy are not convinced and become increasingly worried about Maddie and the company she is keeping. But Maddie is in love and thinks it is just a case of the green eyed monster from Andy and Claire and will not believe that there is anything dodgy about Aaron.
The more Maddie spends time with her new lover the more her life begins to unravel she starts to lose work affecting her finances and also strange things happen around her as if somebody is out to get her. Meanwhile one of the prostitutes Crystal has had an incident with a punter and her pimp Gilly set out to get revenge how far will he go..
And will Maddie live happily ever after with this handsome stranger?
What a wonderful audiobook listen totally brilliant storyline from a truly wonderful author. Some wonderful characterisation and a wonderful plot with some truly nasty characters and characters I am so much looking forward to learning more about as the series continues…
July 29, 2023
I just finished reading "The Mark" for July's TBR Challenge. The prompt was to read a book that's part of a series. I consumed the book in both digital and audio formats, and this review is based on my experience with both.
"The Mark" is a captivating gangland thriller set in Manchester that delves into the lives of a group of sex workers, their pimp, and their clients. Readers should be aware that there are some disturbing scenes portrayed in the book, including realistic violence and abuse that may trigger some individuals.
The plot moves quickly and smoothly, making for an engaging read that I was able to finish within 24 hours. I was hooked from the start and eagerly followed Burnside's lead to see where the story would take me. I was not disappointed. The book's characters are truly memorable, and I'm curious to know what will happen to them next, especially Crystal.
I had been meaning to read Burnside's "The Working Girls" series since its initial release in 2019, and after completing this first book, I am already searching for the next instalment!
If you enjoy the works of Martina Cole or Kimberley Chambers, Heather Burnside is a must-read author in this genre.
"The Mark" is a captivating gangland thriller set in Manchester that delves into the lives of a group of sex workers, their pimp, and their clients. Readers should be aware that there are some disturbing scenes portrayed in the book, including realistic violence and abuse that may trigger some individuals.
The plot moves quickly and smoothly, making for an engaging read that I was able to finish within 24 hours. I was hooked from the start and eagerly followed Burnside's lead to see where the story would take me. I was not disappointed. The book's characters are truly memorable, and I'm curious to know what will happen to them next, especially Crystal.
I had been meaning to read Burnside's "The Working Girls" series since its initial release in 2019, and after completing this first book, I am already searching for the next instalment!
If you enjoy the works of Martina Cole or Kimberley Chambers, Heather Burnside is a must-read author in this genre.
June 16, 2019
Journalist Maddy’s latest assignment takes her to interview working girls. Their pimp sees something in Maddy, a lifestyle that used to be his, and could be again. Maddy lives with her young daughter, she has a good life, all of which her pursuit by the pimp and her new man could jeopardise.
This story is dark and menacing. Maddy, despite her professionalism, is naive and this makes her vulnerable to manipulation. All the girls have a story, why they ended up as working girls, as Maddy’s life unravels she realises how fine the line between safety and danger is.
The story is slow paced, to begin with, as the characters are introduced, and the ease with which different worlds can collide is explored. As the book progresses the adrenaline increases. An interesting start to this new series, with a contemporary, realistic edge.
I received a copy of this book from Aria via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
July 10, 2019
The Mark by Heather Burnside is her first Novel in this new The Working Girls series and it was brilliant. Once I read a few chapters I could not put it down. Maddie is a journalist and is interviewing prostitutes in a run down Manchester pub for a big feature she was reporting. Maddie also has an eight year old daughter so she is juggling her busy life. Maddie meets their ruthless pimp Gilly.
Has she put her self in danger trying to get this big story she is reporting?
I loved this book and looking forward to her next book in this new series of working girls
Highly recommended
Big Thank you. I received a copy of this book from Aria via NetGalley in return for an honest review
Has she put her self in danger trying to get this big story she is reporting?
I loved this book and looking forward to her next book in this new series of working girls
Highly recommended
Big Thank you. I received a copy of this book from Aria via NetGalley in return for an honest review
December 25, 2019
This is a great read that had me guessing what was coming next and failing miserably. It is my first time reading anything by Heather Burnside and will be going back to read more. As this is the start of a series, I do hope that Maddy will turn up in another book as the end of this book left her story not finished completely i think. Definitely recommend reading this book and I would like to thank the publishers and netgalley for letting me have the book to review and the opinions expressed are entirely my own views and are completely unbiased.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 4, 2020
Only 2 stars - if it wasn't lockdown I would have abandoned this. Very poorly written, seems to me as it's aimed at teens? Structure and narrative are most odd.
Character is supposed to be a hard hitting expose journo yet appears to be as thick as mince and gullible and vacuous.
You'll get the plot at half way.
Dire stuff. And who shortens sergeant to Serge? Surely it's sarge? It's a spoken word so needs to be phonetic.
I won't be reading any more of this author I don't think.
Gets two stars as I live near Manchester...
Character is supposed to be a hard hitting expose journo yet appears to be as thick as mince and gullible and vacuous.
You'll get the plot at half way.
Dire stuff. And who shortens sergeant to Serge? Surely it's sarge? It's a spoken word so needs to be phonetic.
I won't be reading any more of this author I don't think.
Gets two stars as I live near Manchester...
July 15, 2021
Don't usual!y enjoy erotic thrillers but I did enjoy this one.
This was a fast moving story set in the Red Light district of Manchester. It showed you that girls who sell their bodies for sex and other degrading acts do have a heart of gold and will protect each other through thick and thin. The main part of this story is about magazine journalist who falls for an charmer who turns out not to be what he seems. A very good story well told although a certain sweat word is used more think it perhaps should be.
This was a fast moving story set in the Red Light district of Manchester. It showed you that girls who sell their bodies for sex and other degrading acts do have a heart of gold and will protect each other through thick and thin. The main part of this story is about magazine journalist who falls for an charmer who turns out not to be what he seems. A very good story well told although a certain sweat word is used more think it perhaps should be.
July 4, 2019
Couldn’t put it down
Really enjoyed reading this and can’t wait for the next one. Loved the way the author put prostitutes together with middle class. Normally that wouldn’t work but Heather has done it so seemingly that it does. Crystal and Maddy are both with the same man but to Crystal he’s Gilly, her pimp, her drug dealer and the love of her life but to Maddy he’s Aaron, a successful business man but when Crystal confronts him everyone’s going to pay
Really enjoyed reading this and can’t wait for the next one. Loved the way the author put prostitutes together with middle class. Normally that wouldn’t work but Heather has done it so seemingly that it does. Crystal and Maddy are both with the same man but to Crystal he’s Gilly, her pimp, her drug dealer and the love of her life but to Maddy he’s Aaron, a successful business man but when Crystal confronts him everyone’s going to pay
February 18, 2020
Absolutely loved this book from start to finish I have read a few books by this author so I was excited to read this book and I can honestly say I’ve never read a book with a storyline like it.....
The characters were written perfectly and the storyline had you gripped I enjoyed reading about the two different lives of a certain character and reading how hard it was for the ladies of the night to live I would definitely recommend this book to everyone.
The characters were written perfectly and the storyline had you gripped I enjoyed reading about the two different lives of a certain character and reading how hard it was for the ladies of the night to live I would definitely recommend this book to everyone.
November 10, 2022
I liked the story but I’m not someone who likes a lot of swearing and the f word is almost in every sentence of speech. It is in keeping with the story as I imagine Pimps and their girls will speak this way, but I just found it uncomfortable.
There was also typos, which although are easy to make, shouldn’t be a book that should have been proof read, e.g. maddy was called Mandy in one sentence.
The story line in itself was good and if you don’t mind the swearing I recommend it.
There was also typos, which although are easy to make, shouldn’t be a book that should have been proof read, e.g. maddy was called Mandy in one sentence.
The story line in itself was good and if you don’t mind the swearing I recommend it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2019
Another great read from Heather Burnside. Maddy thinks she’s found the perfect man for her, but her friend, and ex husband aren’t so sure. After meeting her new man Maddy ‘s life starts to fall apart. Are her new problems connected to him. Can Maddy jump off this rollercoaster her life seems to be before it crashes around her completely.
October 2, 2020
Fantastic book
I've been a fan of gangland fiction for over 20 years now but this was my first read of this author following the recommendations from the fb group gangland gov (notrights) The group was right on the money again. I loved it. Now I have to buy all of Heathers books. She's got a new fan!
I've been a fan of gangland fiction for over 20 years now but this was my first read of this author following the recommendations from the fb group gangland gov (notrights) The group was right on the money again. I loved it. Now I have to buy all of Heathers books. She's got a new fan!
March 9, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. I would recommend anyone who likes crime genre’s thinking along the lines of Martina cole, mandasue Heller ect to read this. The only thing I would say is that although I enjoyed it all came to an ending very suddenly. But still really enjoyed it. I like the writing style too. Will definitely be reading more of the authors books :)
December 31, 2019
Just a quick look?
I thought a quick look through to see what the story was about,l was still reading hours after l started ,a great storyline ,l genuinely could not put it down,congratulations Heather you got my attention straight away ,excellent.
I thought a quick look through to see what the story was about,l was still reading hours after l started ,a great storyline ,l genuinely could not put it down,congratulations Heather you got my attention straight away ,excellent.
February 14, 2020
Great 👍
The story was slow to start with but it soon became a very good read. The Mark showed how easy is women can be manipulated. Excellent now to read the new book in the series Ruby
Great 👍👍
The story was slow to start with but it soon became a very good read. The Mark showed how easy is women can be manipulated. Excellent now to read the new book in the series Ruby
Great 👍👍
February 24, 2020
A fast paced book
This book deserves five stars as it's interesting and fast paced. The character jump out at you and leave you on on a knife edge. Well done Heather , let,s have more stories like this one. Good for any age .
This book deserves five stars as it's interesting and fast paced. The character jump out at you and leave you on on a knife edge. Well done Heather , let,s have more stories like this one. Good for any age .
March 2, 2020
Good story, about a woman who is divorced with a young daughter and meets who she thinks is her perfect man, but he turns out to be someone entirely different with a dodgy past, that she knows nothing about.
August 28, 2020
Rubbish
This is one of the worst books I have ever read, kept hoping it would get better, it didn’t, it got worse.
Simply cannot believe there are 5 star reviews for this book and it beggars belief that it is the start of a series.
This is one of the worst books I have ever read, kept hoping it would get better, it didn’t, it got worse.
Simply cannot believe there are 5 star reviews for this book and it beggars belief that it is the start of a series.
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