What a nail-biting thriller! With edge-of-your-seat twists, Aitchison takes us on a rollercoaster ride of emotions expertly navigating the narrative between protagonist and antagonist, Melody and Nate. My heart broke and raged in equal measure with my internal struggle of who to side with. Aitchison’s depth of knowledge around mental health shines through with her empathetic relaying of issues while adding resolution doubling as shocking side stories. Brilliant!
Helen does it again - another brilliant, mind-capturing read that I devoured in a day.
Melody has been dragging herself through life lately after turbulent and devastating loss, she seeks professional help in Nate, who is a trained Psychologist. Nate is an every day guy, simply doing his job, getting through day by day so it seems…his new patient Melody is a twist he never saw coming and he has no clue however, of the turn his life is about to take.
This story is SO enthralling in the way the plot does 180’s and 360’s, it really keeps you on the edge of your seat. These main characters are so full of depth, flaws and real-life characteristics they no longer felt fictional to me.
The author does an impeccable job of writing about the issues with mental health Melody experiences, it is clear there is knowledge and research done to make this a genuine part of the character; it adds to the book, and makes it seem all the more real.
The ending was the best ending, but I was also so sad to get to the end of the book…thank you so much to the author for sending this to me 🩷
Obsession, mental health and being thoroughly immersive, this book will not disappoint. It’s perfect for those who love a psychological Thriller!
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PS if you are judging me for STILL not having bought another bookshelf …. Same 😩🤣
It’s my day on the blog tour for the wonderful publication of Helen’s book “Broken Boundaries”. I am always delighted to support Helen in all her ventures and supporting her writing is no different, the level of writing in this book is fantastic and the writing was actually making me feel uncomfortable because the characters were really coming to life. It’s amazing for an author to create actual feelings through words and not many can do it so well.
Melody Dartford is a troubled girl in her early 20’s who has mental health illnesses which also included a stay in a psychiatric unit, she seeks help from Lundie Therapy as she is pushed by her friend to seek some help. As the title states, boundaries are broken and different feelings develop between the two, leading to catastrophic consequences.
The book is pacy yet it makes you question your own moral compass. The element of mental illness is written about with care and understanding, I expect no less from Helen as she lives and breathes helping the vulnerable. If I hadn’t left it at home when I went on holiday I could easily have read the whole book in one sitting.
'Broken boundaries' tells the story of Melody Dartford and her therapist, Nate Lundie, whose lives collide and unfold in a suspense filled plot of drama that keeps the readers intrigue. This book is full of immersive imagery that guides the reader successfully through the journey of emotions of all the characters. The darker forces of obsession and passion are expertly woven through as the story evolves. There is hot anticipation for the reader to discover each characters secrets and the progression of the relationship between client and therapist, and whether seduction and temptation will lead to inevitable regret, or even revenge!
The unravelling of both Melody and Nate in their own self destruction, are indeed a stark warning of the dangers of broken boundaries, the power of lust and the potential for hurt and chaos. This book is a page turner with many unexpected twists and turns that keep the reader on tenterhooks Excellent read for my summer holiday, and another wonderful add to my growing collection by Helen Aitchison.
I’m a huge fan of Helen Aitchison’s books; her writing is prolific but I have to say that in my opinion Broken Boundaries is by the best she’s written. The story touches on the delicate topics of mental health issues, family ties that have been shredded through trauma, obsession and vengeance. Throughout the book I was debating with myself as to who was right, who was wrong and whether there was justification in all that occurs. I could honestly understand the POV of all parties involved and found myself very invested in the subjects. The crux of the story is about morals and ethics between therapist and a client but the sub-plots interwoven are factors that have forged the behaviour of the main characters. I was left thinking, “Holy Moly”, at the end of the book. It’s the kind of read that will have the reader torn between right and wrong, justified and unjustified. Well written and gripping, a thoroughly recommended read and an easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I've read and absolutely loved each and every one of Helen's books. Broken Boundaries is her second venture into writing a psychological thriller, and boy did she nail it!
It's addictive reading I tell you...it had me at the prologue, and from then on in I was hooked, not stopping until I'd finished!
Narrated by Nate and Melody the story took me on a dark and disturbing twist strewn journey of obsession and menace. Boundaries are most definitely broken and consequences come with risk.
Helen's characters are written with realism and could well be people you know.
An immersive, intriguing and thoroughly enjoyable read.
Broken Boundaries is a psychological thriller that tells the story of Melody as she starts sessions with therapist Nate. Things quickly escalate as unexpected feelings develop that set off a dangerous sequence of events.
This was a dark and gripping read that I flew through in a couple of days.
Straight away I was intrigued by Melody as a character because I didn't know what to make of her. This made me want to know more and understand her better. It was also interesting seeing the story told from both Melody's and Nate's perspectives as I felt connected to the characters.
This book was a complete rollercoaster of a read. The more I read, the more nervous I became to see the actions that the characters would take. I was so unsure where it was going and had no idea what would happen. There were so many moments that completely shocked me.
Helen has a way of engaging me as a reader that I really enjoy and this book was no exception - I loved the writing style as always.
Thank you Helen Aitchison for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
This author seems to get better and better and from the first few lines I couldn't put this down. The only time I took a seriously short break was to message the author just how insanely good this book was!
Can't beat an unreliable narrator like Melody as you know never know what she's going to do next.
I have always been fascinated by therapist and client relationships, and this delves into that theme on a whole new level. Expect the unexpected!!
Twisty, edge of seat reading and one that will have you totally hooked and invested.
A well written psychological thriller tackling the ever present subject of mental health issues from a duel point if view. There are so many emotions covered including depression, anxiety and obsession which ends with dangerous consequences as well as dealing with the suicide of sibling and how it devastated the whole family even further. It was hard to decide which of the main characters i was aligned with as after learning what melody has gone through, I really felt sorry for her but then as the story progresses I found myself switching to Nate. This again changed and I was very conflicted. The ending comes to a dramatic conclusion and left me with one big question...what did Melody say??
Helen Aitchison delivers yet another outstanding novel with Broken Boundaries, earning a well-deserved five-star rating.
Having read all of Helen’s previous works, I continue to be impressed by her character-driven storytelling and the emotional depth she brings to her stories. Her ability to combine real-life issues with relevant social themes make her stories both relatable and thought-provoking.
In Broken Boundaries, Helen draws on her professional experience as a social worker and counsellor to sensitively explore issues such as mental health and ethical boundaries in therapeutic relationships. The portrayal of Melody’s struggles—her emotional vulnerability, growing obsession with her therapist Nate, and his ethically questionable interest in her—creates a deeply unsettling yet engrossing reading experience.
The book also examines the effects of trauma within a family, illustrating how individuals respond differently to life-altering events and how those responses reshape household dynamics.
Helen’s second foray into psychological thrillers is both gripping and emotionally charged. I found it impossible to put the book down. The conclusion leaves room for further exploration, particularly through the perspectives of other characters—a continuation I would eagerly welcome.
Congratulations to Helen Aitchison on another powerful and compelling release. She is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors, and I look forward to seeing where her storytelling takes us next.