Review of Guiltless Pleasures
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Nazma P
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Review of Guiltless Pleasures
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Guiltless Pleasures" by MD Toston/ Reign Sparks.]
Have you ever gotten so immersed in a story that you forgot that you were reading and not living in it? That's exactly what Guiltless Pleasures by Reign Sparks does. It's a seductive, spine-tingling thriller that pulls you right into a world of fancy dresses, grand mansions, and a love story that seems too good to be true. Until the cracks start showing, turning the fairytale into something much darker. As you reach that point, you're hooked. You'll find yourself turning the page faster and faster, eager to know how the story will end. It's not just my words; it's exactly what my experience was reading this book.
Tasha Nassau is an ordinary woman working at the entrance of an exclusive vacation village. It's an impeccably designed Regency-era setting for the rich to live in the past. But her life took a rather unexpected turn when she impulsively dyed her hair ginger for a simple change. But this small change grabbed the attention of the mysterious Kristoff Kincaid, the owner of the idyllic village. Being his girlfriend, suddenly Tasha is living in luxury, attending grand parties, and exploring elegant mansions in the village she never thought she would get even a glimpse of a few months ago.
But slowly the reality started to sink in. Tasha noticed a strange pattern in her surroundings. The workers in the village behave like they're always afraid of something. There are whispers about some hidden tunnel. But unsettling questions arose in Tasha's mind when a maid mysteriously died. As Tasha digs deeper, she realizes her fairy tale is a well-set trap, and Kristoff’s interest in her might be part of a sinister plan. The truth is far from what Tasha can imagine. She must decide whom to trust before it's too late.
There are many aspects I loved about this book that it's hard for me to point out the standout feature. But to start, I must commend the addictive premise of this book. The main theme of an ordinary girl suddenly living like royalty and the dreamlike, perfect romance instantly piques readers' curiosity to know what's really going on. The multilayer feel of the book is great. You'll experience the sensation of a steamy, passionate romance through descriptive, intimate moments alongside the growing, uneasy suspense that creates a slow-burn tension, keeping you engaged throughout. I felt utterly related to Tasha. Her imperfection, excitement for her new life, growing uneasiness, and determination to survive make her character realistic.
Now the interesting part is I found it hard to hate Kristoff. His character was created in a way where he came across as a very charming guy, which justified why Tasha fell for him. But at the same time, there is enough evidence to suspect him. The unpredictability of his character really got me. I must applaud the author's ability to create a vivid world with detailed descriptions of the surroundings of the village, which made me feel like I was transported there to witness the big mansions, ballroom, and beautiful flower paradise myself.
This book plays with your mind. The psychological tension is so palpable that you can't comprehend what's real and what's an illusion. The dilemma about whom to trust and whether to root for the romance or go against it was exciting. It was an unexplainable feeling for me. Especially the scene where Tasha explored the hidden tunnel the first time was so intense that I was holding my breath the whole time. That scene left a mark on my mind. It's a book that keeps you guessing who to trust, including the main character herself.
There's not much to critique about. I did feel that the story heavily revolved around Tasha and Kristoff; there wasn't much about side characters like Jenny or the workers. But honestly, just reading about Tasha was enough to satisfy me. But I can't give this book a perfect rating as I found numerous errors in the book. With that being said, I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. This book is recommended for mature audiences as it contains graphic sexual descriptions. It was an unnerving, thrilling experience to read this book, and I loved every bit of it. This isn't a thriller that relies on jump scares; rather, it builds the tension slowly, messes with your head, and makes the climax feel earned. Perfect for readers who love stories where the atmosphere itself becomes threatening.
******
Guiltless Pleasures
View: on Bookshelves
Have you ever gotten so immersed in a story that you forgot that you were reading and not living in it? That's exactly what Guiltless Pleasures by Reign Sparks does. It's a seductive, spine-tingling thriller that pulls you right into a world of fancy dresses, grand mansions, and a love story that seems too good to be true. Until the cracks start showing, turning the fairytale into something much darker. As you reach that point, you're hooked. You'll find yourself turning the page faster and faster, eager to know how the story will end. It's not just my words; it's exactly what my experience was reading this book.
Tasha Nassau is an ordinary woman working at the entrance of an exclusive vacation village. It's an impeccably designed Regency-era setting for the rich to live in the past. But her life took a rather unexpected turn when she impulsively dyed her hair ginger for a simple change. But this small change grabbed the attention of the mysterious Kristoff Kincaid, the owner of the idyllic village. Being his girlfriend, suddenly Tasha is living in luxury, attending grand parties, and exploring elegant mansions in the village she never thought she would get even a glimpse of a few months ago.
But slowly the reality started to sink in. Tasha noticed a strange pattern in her surroundings. The workers in the village behave like they're always afraid of something. There are whispers about some hidden tunnel. But unsettling questions arose in Tasha's mind when a maid mysteriously died. As Tasha digs deeper, she realizes her fairy tale is a well-set trap, and Kristoff’s interest in her might be part of a sinister plan. The truth is far from what Tasha can imagine. She must decide whom to trust before it's too late.
There are many aspects I loved about this book that it's hard for me to point out the standout feature. But to start, I must commend the addictive premise of this book. The main theme of an ordinary girl suddenly living like royalty and the dreamlike, perfect romance instantly piques readers' curiosity to know what's really going on. The multilayer feel of the book is great. You'll experience the sensation of a steamy, passionate romance through descriptive, intimate moments alongside the growing, uneasy suspense that creates a slow-burn tension, keeping you engaged throughout. I felt utterly related to Tasha. Her imperfection, excitement for her new life, growing uneasiness, and determination to survive make her character realistic.
Now the interesting part is I found it hard to hate Kristoff. His character was created in a way where he came across as a very charming guy, which justified why Tasha fell for him. But at the same time, there is enough evidence to suspect him. The unpredictability of his character really got me. I must applaud the author's ability to create a vivid world with detailed descriptions of the surroundings of the village, which made me feel like I was transported there to witness the big mansions, ballroom, and beautiful flower paradise myself.
This book plays with your mind. The psychological tension is so palpable that you can't comprehend what's real and what's an illusion. The dilemma about whom to trust and whether to root for the romance or go against it was exciting. It was an unexplainable feeling for me. Especially the scene where Tasha explored the hidden tunnel the first time was so intense that I was holding my breath the whole time. That scene left a mark on my mind. It's a book that keeps you guessing who to trust, including the main character herself.
There's not much to critique about. I did feel that the story heavily revolved around Tasha and Kristoff; there wasn't much about side characters like Jenny or the workers. But honestly, just reading about Tasha was enough to satisfy me. But I can't give this book a perfect rating as I found numerous errors in the book. With that being said, I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. This book is recommended for mature audiences as it contains graphic sexual descriptions. It was an unnerving, thrilling experience to read this book, and I loved every bit of it. This isn't a thriller that relies on jump scares; rather, it builds the tension slowly, messes with your head, and makes the climax feel earned. Perfect for readers who love stories where the atmosphere itself becomes threatening.
******
Guiltless Pleasures
View: on Bookshelves
Latest Review: The Old Stone House by Joseph L Waner
