Bride and Groom

by Rona Halsall

Walking down the aisle in the packed church, sunlight glints off my ivory silk gown. This should be the happiest day of my life. But as I carefully lift my veil and greet my husband-to-be, my heart is pounding with fear. Does someone out there, know what we’ve done?

Ethan gently squeezes my hand as he slides the golden ring onto my finger. But I know we aren’t worthy of happiness.

As I look down at my wedding ring, in a blistering flash, I suddenly remember another piece of that pitch-black, rainy night… but I try to focus on Ethan’s gorgeous blue eyes. I know exactly what he’s thinking. We can never tell.

All our family, friends and loved ones smile as they watch Ethan and I promise to be together until death us do part. But only we know what that really means…

Because we have already killed someone.

My dear, sweet new husband isn’t quite all he seems…

But then again, neither am I.

An incredibly addictive psychological thriller that will keep you up all night, gasping at the truly mind-blowing twists! A completely unputdownable, edge-of-your seat page-turner for fans of The Perfect Marriage, Freida McFadden and Shari Lapena.

Genres: Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Mystery, Audiobook

286 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 5, 2024

About the author

Rona is the #1 best selling author of twisty psychological thrillers and loves to create mayhem in her characters' lives to keep her readers guessing. She lives halfway up a mountain in Snowdonia, North Wales with her three dogs - Maid, Evie and Sandy who are the writing support team.

She is an outdoorsy person, who loves nothing better than stomping up a mountain, and wandering round forests and woodlands while she's plotting her next book. Outside is where the ideas are!

The peak of her writing career was being short-listed for the International Thriller Writers Awards 2024, for THE BIGAMIST. The translation was also shortlisted for an award in Holland.

For the latest news and information on all her books you can check out her website: https://ronahalsall.org/

You can also sign up to her newsletter here:
https://bit.ly/RonaHalsallNews

Also...If you follow her Author page on Amazon, you'll get notifications when a new book is out. You can have a look here:

UK - https://tinyurl.com/yfk4ydyt
US - https://tinyurl.com/26cwfkc7

Go on... hit that Follow button!

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always a fan of the authors books this one has to inch forward as my favourite so far
A newly married couple, Nicci and Ethan have everything they wanted to be happy and successful…..except they maybe don’t and a couple with separate secrets is a couple heading for trouble…..oh and of course the secret they DO share is a biggie, life altering and when they stop and think about it it overpowers them, or does it?………
This is a full on psychological whodunit family thriller drama where the twists kept coming and caught me in the headlights!
Tense and very well told we found out wedded bliss can soon, very quickly, turn into wedded hell
Brilliantly told  as always by this talented author.

[Natalie "Curling up with a Coffee and a Kindle" Laird · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun read. Loved it!
I read these wedding/marriage books with a wary smile as I am currently planning my own wedding... I have no idea how I'd manage if this situation was me!
It was brilliantly plotted, fast paced and full of surprises and twists. Could not put it down and read it in one sitting.

[Sherri Thacker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I had never read a Rona Halsall book before but once I dove in, I realized she reminded me so much of Freida McFadden and Daniel Hurst that I was excited to find someone new and just as refreshing as they are. Well looking back at goodreads, I see I loved her book The Honeymoon back in 2019 so now I’m really excited to get started. It starts off with a bang right away. A couple are 3 days away from getting married when they accidentally hit a person while driving. They have this secret forever and do get married, then all kinds of things start happening. I was glued from the first page and this was a very faced thriller that I could not put down. Twists and turns are thrown in when you least expect them and I just loved this whole book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. To be published April 5, 2024. It won’t be long before you can pick this to your thriller collection. Highly recommend. Looking forward to more books by this author.

[Kristina (seekerofbooksandcoffee) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Walking down the aisle in the packed church, sunlight glints off my ivory silk gown. This should be the happiest day of my life. But as I carefully lift my veil and greet my husband-to-be, my heart is pounding with fear. Does someone out there, know what we’ve done?

Ethan gently squeezes my hand as he slides the golden ring onto my finger. But I know we aren’t worthy of happiness.

As I look down at my wedding ring, in a blistering flash, I suddenly remember another piece of that pitch-black, rainy night… but I try to focus on Ethan’s gorgeous blue eyes. I know exactly what he’s thinking. We can never tell.

All our family, friends and loved ones smile as they watch Ethan and I promise to be together until death us do part. But only we know what that really means…

Because we have already killed someone.

My dear, sweet new husband isn’t quite all he seems…

But then again, neither am I.



This is my first book by this author. I really liked the premise of this book. It was supper weird and twisty ( in a good way). I kept the lights on most of the night after reading this book because I was scared. I can't wait to read more books by Rona Halsall.

[Silvie Klokgieter · Rating 3 out of 5]

"We rijden voor de laatste keer als ongetrouwd stel naar huis. Ondanks de stromende regen en de duistere nacht om ons heen ben ik nog nooit zo gelukkig geweest. Mijn verloofde, Ethan, knijpt even in mijn hand en ik ben zo blij om zijn bruid te zijn. Dan is er een verschrikkelijk ongeluk...

Wanneer ik wakker word, aait hij me over mijn wenkbrauw en zegt hij dat alles goed komt. Maar ik weet dat hij het zo, zó bij het verkeerde eind heeft…

In de kerk schittert zonlicht over mijn ivoorkleurige zijden jurk terwijl ik naar het altaar loop. Onze families, vrienden en dierbaren hebben een lach op hun gezicht terwijl ze toekijken hoe Ethan en ik elkaar beloven samen te zijn tot de dood ons scheidt. Maar alleen Ethan en ik weten wat dat echt betekent…

Want we hebben al iemand vermoord. Mijn dierbare, lieve echtgenoot is niet wie hij lijkt… Maar dat ben ik ook niet."

In 'Bruid en Bruidegom' maak je kennis met Nicci en haar verloofde Ethan. In het begin van dit verhaal overkomt hen meteen al iets heftigs, en dit alles vindt enkele dagen voor hun bruiloft plaats. Ze besluiten deze gebeurtenis geheim te houden voor iedereen...

Wat dan volgt is het innerlijke gevecht van Nicci. Niemand weet namelijk van hun geheim af en Nicci merkt dat het een hele grote rol in haar leven speelt. Ethan probeert er alles aan te doen om het geheim ook daadwerkelijk geheim te houden, maar het schuldgevoel bij Nicci wordt steeds groter...

Je leest over de relatie van Nicci en Ethan en de steeds verder ontwikkelende spanningen tussen dit tweetal. Allebei blijken ze zo hun eigen mening en ideeën over de situatie te hebben.

Ondertussen passeren er ook nog andere personages, zoals de goede vriendin van Nicci en haar vader. Deze personen waren interessant, maar ik vond dat het verhaal wel een beetje oppervlakkig bleef.

De schrijfstijl was fijn, maar het verhaal zelf vond ik niet heel erg sterk. Er zat weinig diepgang in en het was allemaal ook wel redelijk voorspelbaar.

'Bruid en bruidegom' is een prima thriller voor tussendoor. Je moet er alleen niet al teveel van verwachten, want dan eindig je uiteindelijk toch met een lichte teleurstelling...

Beoordeling: 3,0 ⭐️

[sora (sorasbookland) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Family issues, couple drama and friendship betrayals. When you think you understood it all, there is still more to come. The wists and turns are crazy and will leave you guessing until the end.

To be honest, Nicci annoyed me in some parts but I liked seeing her character grow and change and I had a soft spot for her dad. Nicci and Ethan had so many secrets for a couple that seemed like they were perfectly normal.

It might not be fast paced but this thriller is full of secrets, lies and suspense that get you hooked from the start and makes it impossible for you to stop reading because all you want is figure out the plot.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a digital ARC copy.

#BrideAnsGroom #NetGalley

[Jenniferleest · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5 ster

Absoluut een thriller met potentie, het verhaal intrigeert, wekt spanning op en weet je nieuwsgierigheid te prikkelen. Alleen mist de ontknoping finesse: die voelt wat afgeraffeld en daardoor minder geloofwaardig.

Gehele review binnenkort op mijn blog: https://jenniferleest.wordpress.com/

[Craig and Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bride And Groom is a family thriller melodrama with lots of intrigue, shock and til death do us part.
Wedding bliss has never been this explosive……
Nicci and Ethan have just been married.
They have a great life together.
They are successful and happy.
Their vows have a hidden meaning.
But soon it all comes tumbling down.
They both are telling lies.
Secrets are in excess.
Betrayal is just around the corner.
And vengeance has arrived…….
I’m a continuous fan of Rona’s chilling twisty tales.
I read this quite quickly as I just wanted to know what was happening.
A quintessential psychological shocker with much to delight in.
With unhinged characters and a wickedly satisfying plot, this fast paced read will have you wanting more.
A well executed tale.

[Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️

Thank you netgalley and bookoutour for an early copy.

It started out ok. Not a big fan of the writing style.
3rd pov alternating between the 2 MCs.

*****may contain spoilers *******

What i liked
- i liked the mystery at first. It did make me keep reading,
- There was one small plot twist i didnt see coming

What i didnt like
- the writing style was not for me,
- I get that the story line is Mmc being a walking red flag, master manipulator, and a Fmc being an idiot, but it didnt have to be that much.
- I didn’t like the characters
- this book was frustrating at times, after a while it was hard to finish.
- I pretty much guessed everything except that one small plot twist,

Over all it was okay.

[Julie Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great psychological thriller.
Before Nicci and Ethan get married they discuss their vows, as something happened a few days before the wedding.
Nicci is struggling to come to terms with it but Ethan is there to calm her down.
As the story progresses we learn more about each character, and it’s not all good.
There’s a few twists and turns that will take you by surprise and your feelings towards some characters will definitely change.
This is a gripping read that I really enjoyed.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

[A.J. Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick easy read

Can a couple survive a lie being woven into their marriage vows? This was a super fast read full of twists and turns!

[StinaStaffymum · Rating 4 out of 5]

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/.

[Nessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Becci · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Mel · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am very sad when I have to leave a low review, but I really cannot rate this higher.

To start with the pros: I never knew where any of it was going, there were lots of unexpected twists and turns. Normally I can predict the way a book is going to end, but I truly had no idea where this was going, and that in and of itself was enough to keep me turning the pages.

I think where this book fell flat was in the execution. The writing was very simplistic and rushed, which did not build much suspense at all. Any sort of question the characters had was answered almost immediately, and the dialogue was very stunted. The book also switched perspectives mid-chapter which could be very hard to follow. Lastly, I had no connection to any of the characters and they all felt very one-dimensional to me. I think with a little more work character-building and suspense building this could have been a really great read, but I struggled to finish it because of how disjointed and superficial it felt.

Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture publishing, and Rona Halsall for the digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Bo Verhoef · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ik wist in het begin niet zo goed waar dit boek heen zou gaan, omdat het plot eigenlijk al bekend was in de eerste twee hoofdstukken. Gelukkig veranderde het en werd het ook nog wat mysterieuzer. Een echte psychologische thriller wil ik het echter niet noemen, ook al zitten er wel meerdere wat verrassende wendingen in. Ik vond veel dingen vooral echt zielig, maar misschien was het hier en daar te simpel. Al met al was het gewoon een vermakelijke thriller, prima als tussendoortje 🤗.

[Tina B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

Thank you to Rona Halsall and Bookouture for the complimentary eARC in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

[Barbara Schultz · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Sophie Sheppard · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Staceywh_17 · Rating 5 out of 5]

That's it, I'm staying engaged for the rest of my life, marriage is definitely off the cards!

Blimey, what a belter Bride and Groom turned out to be. I've read several of Halsall's books via Bookouture and I have to say this was my absolute favourite to date.

The characters are believable, and they'll have you second guessing yourself throughout the book with their lies and betrayals.

Full of drama, with more twists and turns than Eastenders, Bride and Groom is a fast paced psychological thriller that's addictive, well plotted and puts Halsall up there as one of my go to thriller authors.

Brilliant book, happy to recommend both the book and the author.

[Donna Mallery · Rating 4 out of 5]

The protagonist is this book faces many challenges including heartache, sorrow, and secrets that could destroy her life. Recently married, she should have it all, but one decision threatens to destroy everything she holds dear. The pace is good, and I enjoyed this book!

[Krista (Mrs K Book Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review⭐⭐⭐⭐
ARC PUBLICATION April 5th 2024

A story full of secrets and lies. So many twists and turns that had me on the edge of my seat the whole time ..

My only complaint was the way it was written. I prefer that the characters be broken up into separate chapters as it made for a confusing read. Once past this I still recommend.

Thanks Netgalley and bookouture

[Tjaša Kirn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The start of the book is a little weird, but then it slowly makes sense. This is why I gave 4 stars of 5

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read and especially enjoyed the second half of the book. At first I thought where can this story go as it was an accident… but as the book goes on, secrets come out!! Good read.

[CammieOH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woah! This is a gut clenching frustrating thriller! By far the best from this author! 5 stars!

[Els · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whilst reading and utterly enjoying this book, once more the question floats into my head: how well do you know somebody? Not very well it seems, but to be fair I have to say that some people are masters in disguising what they think and what they are up to.

I loved the evolution I saw Nicci go through and I was yelling: Good for you, girl. She went from people pleaser extra-ordinaire to a strong woman, standing up for herself.

I enjoyed seeing some characters getting what they deserved.

There were parts that brought tears to my eyes, others that warmed my heart and a lot of suspenseful ones. A great mix of emotions that resulted in a wonderful book. 5 stars

Thank you

[Kerry-Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast paced quick read, with great twists and a superb ending. Loved it!

[Femke M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nederlandse versie.

[Emma Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

It feels wrong to give it 3* with how quick I read it and I did enjoy it / it was an easy read. However, the ending was a bit pants! It built up well but then felt rushed and as if the author got bored writing. One last twist and it’d have kept it at 4*