Addison is a typical teen, who worries only about the relatively insignificant things in life like; college, friends, boy bands and passing her driving test. Little does Addy know, life is about to put her to the test when she becomes the object of an addiction, an infatuation and an obsession on a level she cannot begin to comprehend. As the weather turns frosty and the icy season draws in Addison finds that, someone she assumed to be a relatively innocent secret admirer, is taking things to the next level and their thoughts are colder, darker and more sinister than the freezing winter nights. But how do you stop a faceless, nameless stalker when even authorities can't find the culprit?
Helen J. Barnes has been writing since 2014 and kicked off the year with The Learning Curve, the first novel in the Inner Strength Series, followed up by A Rising Angel. She is also the Author of the DJ Series. The Final Note, Disrespectful Diva and Crazy Perfection is due to be released October 2015.
Married to a DJ/Producer and record label manager, she has three children and was born and raised in Nottinghamshire, UK.
When not writing Helen enjoys reading and home educating her children when they're not holidaying on the east coast of England. She has unhealthy addiction to Ian Somerhalder, Tom Hardy, chocolate, anything tie dyed and is obsessed with all things Titanic related.
I am speechless. I am blown away. I am in complete awe of this book. Fair warning though, do not read this book while you are alone. I have checked every window and every lock several times and I am now snuggling with my cat to make me feel better. It's the only thing that will calm me after reading this amazing story. This book should be talked about in the same sentence as Gone Girl, but in my opinion, this blew Gone Girl out of the water. I am still trying to figure out how there was no way for me to guess the culprit of this scary crime.
I felt like I was reading a biography of Addy, a girl who has the rotten lick of drawing the wrong guy's eye. The nightmare that ensues will give me just that, nightmares. This is a study of pure psychological thriller that should be studied for its simplicity. The relationship between Addy and Ben was the soothing agent from my nerves being so frayed. As I write this I am still in shock and loving every second of it. I pride myself on figuring these kinds of things out, and when I don't, I love it. Not only was I freaked out about the crime, but I was also instantly invested in this small circle of people and Razz the dog that I had to know how they were coping and what this drama was doing to them.
Here is my advice, buy this book, snuggle into a place that makes you feel safe and secure, and get ready to be swept up in a whirlwind of emotions. You will read this in one sitting, shutting the world out because you need to see what will happen next. Me, I'm off to buy anything that is connected to this author. I might look into getting a dog too, just in case.
I never would've guessed that ending. Kudos to Helen J. Barnes for penning a riveting novel that'll have you turning the pages and keep you on your toes!
The lead character, Addison, is an eighteen year-old college student. She is concerned with normal-girl things, like boys, bands, getting her driver's license, and going to school. But then her life takes a far-from-normal turn when she begins to receive extravagant gifts and texts from an unknown admirer. At first, she is intrigued as to who it could be. But when the "admirer" turns into more of a "stalker," Addy just wants her normal life back.
I loved this story! Ms. Barnes writes teenage angst so accurately. I felt like Addison and all her friends were real people. There's a love story in here, too! I was rooting for Ben, but was never sure if he was a good guy . . . or not. And therein lies the strength of the story. I couldn't put my kindle down. I NEEDED to know what was going to happen next. And let me tell you, the mystery aspect is tight! I thought I had it figured out, then BAM!
I won't say much more, except that you need to experience Nameless for yourself. 5 STARS!!
I was so bloody excited about this landing on my kindle...after reading the blurb (yes I do it from time to time!) and eye-floving the stunning cover, I flew through my first read by Helen J Barnes!
Addy is a funny, smart and typical nearly-18 year old! Well, until we discover she has someone who thinks a little too much of her...
Excerpt: ...I didn't anticipate this getting so serious; so sinister. A secret admirer was more infuriating, not knowing who it was, rather than scary just a couple of short weeks ago. Now I feel like I can't do anything without some nameless freak knowing what I'm doing, where and who I'm with.
I've got to say it's been a refreshing read as its a storyline that I can't say I've read before and I genuinely think young people/YA would get alot out of it, not only in terms of the hilarity and typical teenage banter (and backstabbing!) that comes with girls, but also down to personal safety, the use of social media and knowing who to trust.
Excerpt: Do I want to fight back? Or stay hidden in my prison, safe behind closed blinds and locked doors? Is it worth the fight to reclaim a carefree life? Would my life ever go back to what it was?
A really well written story that I fell in love with...especially the formatting of the text and messenger screenshots. This gave it a really good "fun" feel and a uniqueness I can't say I've ever got with another book. I can only praise Helen J Barnes and say that this is just the first of many of her books I plan to read. Be sure to go one click Nameless now! You won't regret it.
I was very excited to get this book. I loved Helen's DJ series and I was excited that she was trying a new genre. I love the cover, and after reading the book it fits perfectly. I found the story quite interesting. The idea of having this horrible stalker watch your every move can be a scary thing. No matter what age you are. I think Helen wrote it as true as possible, you could tell a lot of detail and information had been found before writing in some of the parts including the police and case worker. I was trying to predict who the stalker would be and at one point had the whole thing figured out in my head. But the bam, Helen went and shocked us with the culprit. The ending was a big shock, and I just wanted to shake Addison for her stupidity after everything that had happened to her.
Going into the story, I felt like it was really slow going, the story took a while to get it's pace. I found it hard to connect with the characters. Addison was your typical teenager, went to college, hung out with friends, did her driving test. But I couldn’t connect to her. I found her annoying and naggy. I think some of the language used from the teenagers was wrong. In one sentence they were talking like normal teenagers but then the next they would say something that maybe someone in their late 20’s would say and it didn’t fit into the story. I think maybe the story would've been better if the characters had been older. It would've flowed better with the story as a whole.
Overall I enjoyed the story as a whole, but just wish I could of connected to the characters. 3 stars!
This book was an absolute surprise to me, I am not really a big fan of the Young Adult genre, but it delivered everything and more; I was mesmerised and addicted to the story and the characters. The author’s writing was impeccable and fluent adding to the ease and flow of the book. Addison is just a normal 17 year old, cruising through life and college, thinking about the next time she can go out with her friends, nothing unusual there until she starts getting some unexpected attention with gifts, phone calls and texting from someone unknown. At first flattering, if not a little unnerving, Addy feels quite "special" that someone is singling her out for their undivided attention; but when the ante is upped and this secret admirer starts to get a little nasty with his deliveries then Addy's life is thrown into turmoil and she finds herself frightened for her very existence. Other secondary characters like Addy's best friend Dayna, Lexi, Ben and Olly contribute greatly to this exciting, suspenseful tale. It's a case of who is it…? Could it be Olly, Ben or someone completely random, and just when you've think you know the answer or you have your suspicion's, then the author leads you down another trail of deceit, lies, and OMG's did that just happen!!! In the end your head will be spinning with the what if's and It can't be him/ her - can it? And Helen J Barnes will keep you guessing right until the very end. Nail biting and utterly addictive this book is amazing and I couldn't put it down, reading until the twilight hours, but it was so worth the lack of sleep. A must read !!!
It's been a long time since I have read a romantic suspense, or any suspense at all in fact, though I have read Helen's work before. I know this was a completely new genre for her though and going by the blurb I was so excited to read it!
Addison (Addy) is in the prime of her teenage years and loving life with her best friends Dayna & Lexi when she discovers she has a stalker. This happens around the same time she meets Ben, and Olly, both interested in her, and from two totally different backgrounds, but like many people, she is quick to judge them.
I must admit, I judged them the same as Addy but I did take a dislike to Lexi straight away - my bitch radar was on full alert! Helen's character profiling is great though, I really love Dayna and felt so much sympathy for Addy. I grew to adore Ben too! And Razz, even though he is 'only' a dog he was like a main character and I love him too!
Helen definitely kept me hanging on throughout the story and I was always changing my mind about who Addy's stalker was, but it was still a surprising revelation! I love how Helen's writing kept giving me chills because of the actions taken by the stalker, and it was really full of tension toward the end. I could hardly put it down. I could tell Helen had done her research. It also gives out the message that you shouldn't judge a book - or a person - by the cover.
Overall, Nameless is a story full of crazy emotions and it gripped me from start to end - a 5* must read.
My review comes following my receiving of the exciting ARC for Nameless. I always eagerly devour anything this author writes, because she writes with sass and realism. I know this is Helen J Barnes first stab at writing a thriller, but what a thriller it is! It's gripping, with enough nervy suspense to have you chewing your fingernails down to the quick and sitting so tensely, you give yourself back ache. Without giving too much away, Addy is the female lead who is being persecuted by an unknown stalker. The story follows her trying to cope with the fear, tension and drama that torments her daily. It also affects those around her (parents, friends and her gorgeously sweet boyfriend, Ben). I thoroughly enjoyed Nameless, as it touches on a subject that is very much a very real problem for some women AND men. 5 grippingly brilliant stars from me for this dramatic write. I truly hope we see more suspense and drama from this fabulous author!!
Oh my god, I didn't see that coming !!! This was the first book I have read of Helen's and I wasn't dissapointed. Addison is 18 and has a secret admirer (something some of us wouldn't mind) but things start to turn from something that is flattering to something much more sinister. Who could it be ??? I was constantly running each character through my mind trying to work out who it was, but with each turn of the page I kept changing my mind. This book has it all, suspense, humour and is very well written and the copies of the text messages that feature in the book put a fun element to it. It is definitely worth one clicking and reading.
This is a beautifully written story, and is written in such a unique way that the reader is enthralled from the very beginning. This book contains it all, suspense, humour, and good banter. It is difficult to review without giving spoilers, but please, read this one for yourself. This author has done an amazing job, and I cannot wait to read more of her work in the future.
I almost DNF this book.. The characters got on my nerves! But I just had to know, who was stalking Addison! I thought it was two different people but I was wrong. I didn't see the ending coming and I'm really confused as to why (you know who) was the one stalking?! I'm still *Scratching My Head* over that one. Some parts seemed a little far fetched. I am really disappointed in myself for wasting time reading this one.
This book introduces you to Addison, a regular girl whose life gets turned upside down in a very sinister way. I love the dynamics of the characters and the fact is even if you think you know who is who and the people you don’t trust it all flips as quick as you say the word Nameless and you are back at the starting line wondering who is stalking this poor girl! This book is a truly suspense filled orb of who done it! Every page turn will have you convinced you know who the culprit it and with every turn after that change your mind as new suspects come into the frame. Throw in some suspicious behaviour, friends turning on friends and also add the new people who Addison meets along the way and this really gets the cogs in your brain working overtime to figure it out! You never really know if they really friend’s or the stalker who won’t leave her alone? Towards the end I was cringingly turning the pages as I knew who I wanted the stalker to be and I desperately wanted to find out but at the same time I didn’t want the book to end. For me this story was so well written EVERYONE was in the frame for being Addison’s stalker! I even had a suspect list I was writing as I read the book, I was felt like a detective and was keeping notes on everything ‘out of place’ and I thought I had the ‘person’! But I was soooooooo wrong! It’s very fast paced and well thought out, the addition of a guidance councillor to help Addison through it was very well placed and very true to life, the fact that Addison starts to become afraid to go out and is questioning everything and everyone and the sheer fear that rolls of the pages give you an insight as to what this girl is going through. A sinister thriller that kept me turning page after page in the hunt for answers! Helen J.Barnes I am absolutely loving this dark, suspense filled beauty! Thank you for feeding the little bit of darkness we all have inside us! ;-)
Reviewed on behalf of A Book Lovers Emporium. This book was an absolute surprise to me, I am not really a big fan of the Young Adult genre, but it delivered everything and more; I was mesmerised and addicted to the story and the characters. The author’s writing was impeccable and fluent adding to the ease and flow of the book. Addison is just a normal 17 year old, cruising through life and college, thinking about the next time she can go out with her friends, nothing unusual there until she starts getting some unexpected attention with gifts, phone calls and texting from someone unknown. At first flattering, if not a little unnerving, Addy feels quite "special" that someone is singling her out for their undivided attention; but when the ante is upped and this secret admirer starts to get a little nasty with his deliveries then Addy's life is thrown into turmoil and she finds herself frightened for her very existence. Other secondary characters like Addy's best friend Dayna, Lexi, Ben and Olly contribute greatly to this exciting, suspenseful tale. It's a case of who is it…? Could it be Olly, Ben or someone completely random, and just when you've think you know the answer or you have your suspicion's, then the author leads you down another trail of deceit, lies, and OMG's did that just happen!!! In the end your head will be spinning with the what if's and It can't be him/ her - can it? And Helen J Barnes will keep you guessing right until the very end. Nail biting and utterly addictive this book is amazing and I couldn't put it down, reading until the twilight hours, but it was so worth the lack of sleep. A must read !!
Reviewed on behalf of your next hot read by Wendy .
On the edge of you seat Nail biting suspense thriller,
I love everything Helen j Barnes has written but I couldn't wait to get my hand on this new suspense thriller of hers has it's a totally different genre from all of her other books, and I wasn't disappointed in fact I think this genre really suits her,
Addison is a young 18 year old girl who only ever thinks of College, friends, Fashion, and her favourite band NG19,
But one day that all changed when Addison found she's got a Secret admirer, she was thrilled at first but after a while things turn very sinister, but whatever Addison did the admirer was always one step ahead of her,
I absolutely devoured this book I couldn't put it down, I really needed to find out who this secret admirer was,
I add countless characters in mind but there were so many twists and turns in this story it kept me on the edge of your seat right up until the very last chapter,
I absolutely loved this book and I've not stopped raving about it since I read it,
They always say never judge a book by its cover but the cover of this book is absolutely fantastic and captures The sinister and suspenseful story that is written within the pages
I dont normally delve into the young adult genre and i'm not a big fan of romantic suspense but I was totally surprised at how I was so easily drawn into this story as the writing was so good that I just couldn't stop reading it. The main character of Addison is a young girl who finds herself with unwanted attention from a secret admirer who becomes overly obsessed with her making her life a living hell. She meets Ben who is in the band Nameless who becomes her one friend who seems to always be there for her through everything but even he she doesn't know whether to trust completely. She gets mixed up with a few other guys also wanting her attention leading her to think that one of them is the culprit behind everything that is happening to her and makes her wary of all of them. I loved how the story played out with its many twists and turns and kept me guessing right up until the very end and I never had a clue it would end the way it did. Absolutely brilliant storytelling and well deserves 5 stars.
*I read this book as it was given to me by the author for an honest review*
This is a five star read if there ever was one. It's the story of Addison (Addy), a typical college student. She's enjoying college, her friends and doing all the things new college students get to experience. It's when she starts getting gifts from a secret admirer that things turn interesting. Then the gifts become scary and Addy now doesn't have a secret admirer, she has a stalker.
This book takes you on a thrill ride like very few books can take you. You experience thrills and shrills. It's certainly an edge of your seat ride. The ending, is WOW. It's hard to review without giving too much away so read the book, you're going to love it!
First book I've read by this author, won't be the last! Great storyline and interesting characters. Best of all Thought I knew who was behind everything but not only was I wrong the ending was totally believe. well played Ms. Barnes-well played!