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The Rich Man
Her boyfriend vanished, but moving on could be murder...
Acey left without a word, leaving Elena alone to pick up the pieces of her broken heart. Determined not to be crushed by his betrayal, she forces herself to get over him.
Never did she fathom the unspeakable darkness closing in...
Sinclair Diamond breezes into her life like an answered prayer. Handsome. Wealthy. Charming. As he lovingly dotes on her, Elena finds herself falling for him.
But Sinclair has unspeakable secrets all his own.
Men in black suits trailing them. Shady business dealings. The odd chain of events surrounding his first wife’s death. The more Elena learns about Sinclair, the more her apprehension builds. Yet when a ghost from her past reappears, Elena is forced to face a startling truth that could cost her everything.
Can she escape the web of deceit tightening around her? Or will she be the next to mysteriously disappear?
Acey left without a word, leaving Elena alone to pick up the pieces of her broken heart. Determined not to be crushed by his betrayal, she forces herself to get over him.
Never did she fathom the unspeakable darkness closing in...
Sinclair Diamond breezes into her life like an answered prayer. Handsome. Wealthy. Charming. As he lovingly dotes on her, Elena finds herself falling for him.
But Sinclair has unspeakable secrets all his own.
Men in black suits trailing them. Shady business dealings. The odd chain of events surrounding his first wife’s death. The more Elena learns about Sinclair, the more her apprehension builds. Yet when a ghost from her past reappears, Elena is forced to face a startling truth that could cost her everything.
Can she escape the web of deceit tightening around her? Or will she be the next to mysteriously disappear?
- GenresThrillerMystery Thriller
229 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 2, 2021
23 people are currently reading
285 people want to read
About the author
J.S. Ellis
31 books168 followersJ.S Ellis is a thriller author. She has a degree in creative writing, English literature, and digital marketing. She lives in Malta with her fiancé and their fur baby Eloise. When she’s not writing or reading, she’s either cooking, eating cheese and chocolate, or listening to good music and enjoying a glass of wine or two.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
February 2, 2021
Elena has sworn off men. Her boyfriend, Acey, has just packed his stuff and moved on..leaving no note, no text, no email ... no warning. He just left.
But then along comes Sinclair Diamond ... a wealthy, good-looking, charming man. He also has secrets .. .lots of them ... and most of them are buried.
He seems to really care for Elena .. but he has an agenda and Elena plays a huge part in it.
She's really fallen for him, but the more she learns about him, the more concerned she becomes.
Can she escape the web of deceit tightening around her? Or will she be the next to mysteriously disappear?
This is well-written with suspense beginning on the first page and holding steady throughout the book. The author has created believable characters by giving them depth and personality. The ending gave me chills .... somewhat reminiscent of The Godfather with the man waking up to find his horse's head in his bed. There are no horses here .. but it's just as jarring.
Many thanks to the author / Booksirens for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
But then along comes Sinclair Diamond ... a wealthy, good-looking, charming man. He also has secrets .. .lots of them ... and most of them are buried.
He seems to really care for Elena .. but he has an agenda and Elena plays a huge part in it.
She's really fallen for him, but the more she learns about him, the more concerned she becomes.
Can she escape the web of deceit tightening around her? Or will she be the next to mysteriously disappear?
This is well-written with suspense beginning on the first page and holding steady throughout the book. The author has created believable characters by giving them depth and personality. The ending gave me chills .... somewhat reminiscent of The Godfather with the man waking up to find his horse's head in his bed. There are no horses here .. but it's just as jarring.
Many thanks to the author / Booksirens for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
February 1, 2021
Sinclair is rich and with his money he can buy not only material things, but the respect and women. He always gets what he wants, but now Acey has stolen from him, and if there is something he can’t stand are liars and thieves, and now if he doesn’t want him to be seen as a fool he has to catch him. But revenge tastes better. Acey has stolen something from him, and Sinclair will still something back, and how can he not? Elena is gorgeous and innocent, only a fool would leave her behind.
I have to say that I got super annoyed by some of the characters:
Sinclair thinks he is the typical man that thinks he owns the world only because if rich, he kills everyone that might endanger his manhood.
Elena even tho she sees how possessive and strange this man his, falls for him cause the sexual attraction is to intense..
So let’s say that I found these two characters profile a bit of a cliché.
The book is a super fast read, I’ve read it in half a day and it does keep you at the edge of your seat.
Plus I love when a book it’s written using different point of views, in this case: Elena, Acey and Sinclair. I feel that with this choice the author helps the reader to know the characters more and appreciate the story a little more.
If you like books which involve gangsters then that’s the book perfect for you.
I have to say that I got super annoyed by some of the characters:
Sinclair thinks he is the typical man that thinks he owns the world only because if rich, he kills everyone that might endanger his manhood.
Elena even tho she sees how possessive and strange this man his, falls for him cause the sexual attraction is to intense..
So let’s say that I found these two characters profile a bit of a cliché.
The book is a super fast read, I’ve read it in half a day and it does keep you at the edge of your seat.
Plus I love when a book it’s written using different point of views, in this case: Elena, Acey and Sinclair. I feel that with this choice the author helps the reader to know the characters more and appreciate the story a little more.
If you like books which involve gangsters then that’s the book perfect for you.
January 16, 2021
Oh my, A thriller indeed. It will keep you on the edge of your seat and characters you love then hate or hate then love. Very mixed, this lot of gangsters. Who is a gangster, who has become one? Told from the viewpoint of each person it is a tangled web and ends with a cliff hanger. What happens next? Will there be a follow up or do we just guess that the good guys always win? Good read but be aware it truly is a cliff hanger. I received an ARC of this book and was under no obligation to provide a review. The opinions expressed are my own. Thanks to the author and publisher for allowing me to read this book.
March 11, 2021
Can't say I was gripped... the characters were rather one dimensional and some of them went through a personality change without explanation.
January 17, 2021
A Thriller in Need of a Little TLC
The Rich Man by J. S. Ellis certainly fits into the psychological thriller genre. It is filled with dubious characters, violent crimes, strip clubs, casinos, and a vulnerable female protagonist.
If you enjoy reading about complex characters with huge flaws, and you like to see plenty of action, this is a great novel for you.
Please remember that the following is only the personal opinion of one reviewer. Other critics may have a completely different reading experience.
The Opening
The opening chapter is told entirely from Sinclair’s viewpoint and does successfully introduce him and the novel’s main conflict. However, the narrative did not immerse me in the story for reasons given below in the section on prose.
To me, the first chapter was what some critics call an “info dump”. It provided the reader with a brief sketch of Sinclair’s backstory, like a mini-biography. But it was not done in an active way (as an aside while he is performing some action). Instead, we have no idea where Sinclair is and what he’s doing while he’s saying/thinking his anecdotes.
Despite this, the opening does provide a kind of hook because the events he’s describing are interesting. Many readers will be encouraged to continue reading to learn more about this enigmatic man. However, the hook would be much stronger if the information was presented in a more active way with Sinclair actually doing something.
The second chapter is far superior, and Elena is introduced very well.
The Characters
Elena is a wonderfully sympathetic character. Having just been dumped by her boyfriend, readers will feel sorry for her. Also, she is very much an underdog. As the story progresses, the more we learn about her the more we invest in her as a character.
Sinclair is not the world’s most sympathetic character, but he is really interesting. His complex character may be enough to keep the attention of readers and engage them in the story.
Despite having suffered some level of child abuse during his youth, Sinclair’s behavior is disproportionately violent and lacking in empathy. It is often difficult to empathize with his motives and actions.
His treatment of employees is most certainly not a great business model that would encourage staff loyalty and improve productivity. In the real world, he would run out of willing employees within days.
Acey is also not a sympathetic character. The excuses he makes for himself don’t pass the simplest logic test. He’s just a jinx to everyone he meets in the worst possible way, and he doesn’t allow any sense of blame or responsibility to stick to his conscience.
The Plot
Overall, the plot is fabulous. This is an action-packed story. It is never boring, and there is no midpoint slump. The climax is shocking, and the book has an interesting ending. However, I personally had a few issues with plausibility along the way.
For example, at the midpoint of the story, Acey speaks to Elena in a vehicle, and this marks a turning point to the relationship arc in this romance novel. However, any woman in Elena’s position would demonstrate some level of denial, especially when the messenger has proved so unreliable in the past. To me, Elena’s lack of denial was implausible.
I hesitate to give more examples because that would provide spoilers.
The Setting
Generally, the setting is clear. However, in the opening chapter, it would have been nice to see, smell, and feel where Sinclair is as he’s thinking about his life.
Often throughout the story, it would have been nice to see more sensory information. For example, when Elena practices firing a gun, we need to smell the cordite, see the smoke, hear the deafening shot (since she never wears ear protection), and feel the strong recoil from the point of view of a slim and light female.
Many minor elements of the setting were implausible. For example, Sinclair proposes using a private jet to fly from Devon to London. A helicopter would make sense, as it could land in a field in Devon and atop a building in London. A jet is not so practical. The transfers to and from the airports would likely take longer than a simple drive from Devon into the city. A train ride would be even quicker.
On another occasion, Sinclair recalled earning £700 for his first drug deal as a child. He was only a mule and this was his first job. The customer was a group of students. Unless those students accepted delivery of £20k+ of stock, this is an unlikely level of pay. It made me feel that Ellis has not adequately researched the topic of organized crime before writing her novel.
Acey mentions having to pay tax on his poker wins. There is no tax applicable to poker winnings in the UK, and any British person who plays poker regularly is aware of this. This is another area where more research would have been beneficial.
Toward the end of the story, Elena is concerned about being followed or observed doing certain actions and meeting certain people. She has reason to believe that powerful and well-connected people may be keeping tabs on her. Yet not once does she worry about who texts her on her cellphone or that her calls might be recorded.
Butch does like his Smart cars!
The Prose
There are multiple problems with the narrative. While I enjoyed this story, I felt that it should have been better polished and edited before publication.
Show & Tell
The most obvious problem is that the story in the first chapter is told rather than shown. The opening scene is too general, without focus, rather than specific, set in a specified time and place.
Instead of a scene that the reader can visualize, Sinclair gives us an abstract internal monologue. He isn’t actually doing anything at the time. He simply recaps his recent life history for us without any associated actions.
For the story to be shown rather than told, Sinclair would have to wander around, for example, his office, and look at a photo of his wife as he’s thinking about her. He would open a bank account file on his computer and look at the transactions as he’s thinking about Acey. Sinclair would tie his backstory thoughts to actions happening right now as the story is established.
Transitions
Sometimes, the scene skips without a clear transition. For example, in Chapter Three, Sinclair speaks with an employee in his office about Elena, and then suddenly he’s sitting in the audience at a cabaret watching Elena perform on stage.
Continuity
There are also continuity errors. Again using Chapter Three as an example, Sinclair is speaking with Vladimir about his tie. Then there is a knock at the door, and Vladimir enters. Unless there are two Vladimirs, this is impossible.
Here’s another example three-quarters of the way through the novel. Butcher attempts to arrange a meeting between Elena and Acey in a hotel bathroom. When we get to the next paragraph, we’re in the next day and Elena receives a text from Acey. The bathroom meeting is completely lost without even a reaction from Elena to say or think she won’t go.
Simple Errors
There are multiple typos throughout the book. For example, “all saying what stunner I am”, “Not all children are born lucky, some more unfortunate than others”, and “I’m a dancer, how my life turned out this way?”
Repetition & Redundancy
Occasionally, whole scenes are repeated from a different character’s viewpoint. In some novels, this can be enlightening, teaching us something we didn’t realize about the scene. In The Rich Man, it often comes across as repetitive.
For example, at the beginning of Part Two, we get Acey’s viewpoint about events in Devon prior to the story’s beginning. We have already read these details from Sinclair’s viewpoint and nothing new is added.
In novels where this repetition is done appropriately, the scenes are sketched in such a way that major facts and actions are unseen by the viewpoint character during the first run through. This allows the reader to be surprised by new revelations during the second run-through. Here, we had the same level of detail in both tellings.
Time Flow
The time flow is occasionally confusing. Instead of being linear, which is generally best, it goes back and forth more frequently than the plot in The Time Traveler’s Wife.
For example, the first and the second time we see Acey and Butch together appear to be different events before and after Butch visits Sinclair’s casino. After quite some reflection, I realized the two meetings are actually the same meeting but divided by a flashback to the casino.
Throughout the story, we read flashback scenes that are not well transitioned. This often left this reader unsure where in time he was.
Style
Sometimes sentences are ambiguous. For example: “I watch her as she sleeps with a glass of whisky in one hand, a cigarette in the other.” Because of the word order within this sentence, it literally means that the female main object of this sentence is sleeping with a cigarette and a glass in her hands. However, when you read on, it becomes clear that it is the subject of the sentence who is holding the items and not the female.
Some sentences incorporate unnecessarily repeated words. For example: “I call my mum but she doesn’t take the call,” which would sound better as, “I call my mum, but she doesn’t answer.” Similarly, “I offered him a new identity as a new man,” which could simply be cut short, “I offered him a new identity.”
Another example: “I don’t care with who you’ve been with, you’re with me now.” Ignoring the grammar issue concerning “who” because the speaker is relatively uneducated, using “with” three times in one sentence is sloppy. Given this was a spoken sentence, it could be accepted as colloquial. Even so, it would be simpler and more succinct to say, “I don’t care who you dated before, you’re with me now.”
Ellis or her copy editor would benefit from a basic style guide, such as The Oxford Guide to Style. Some of the sentences in this book are six or seven clauses long, especially in dialogue where clipped sentences might be more realistic. Many longer sentences include two independent clauses linked by a conjunction, but commas are rarely brought into use.
Dialogue frequently uses incorrect punctuation. For example:
‘Is it?’ She asks, not convinced.
'…you never had a father figure in your life like other children?’ She asks.
Note that the single quotation marks are NOT an error. That is simply a British publishing standard. In this case, it is the capitalized pronouns — She.
Voice
Although the story is set in the UK and the voice of the male protagonist is predominantly British, there are occasional lapses into American English. For example: “…asked if I’d like to make a quick buck. All I had to do was transport pot to a group of college kids.”
A British person would think: “…asked if I’d like to make a few quid. All I had to do was deliver weed to some students.” Alternatively, “ganja” or “skunk” might be used to mean cannabis depending upon where the speaker lived. “Pot” is not a word used in the UK to describe a drug.
The big problem with errors in the voice, or in the specific UK setting, is that it can disrupt the reader’s “suspension of disbelief”. This prevents readers from truly immersing themselves in a story.
My Opinion
I feel I must reiterate this is only the subjective opinion of one reviewer. The Rich Man by J. S. Ellis is a crime romance with much potential. However, my honest opinion is that it has been published too quickly and requires further editing.
Based on the good quality of the characters and the superb plot, I am going to award this romance thriller a score of 3 out of 5. With the subpar editing, I cannot justify a grade above 3.
Why not give The Rich Man a read to see if you agree with my assessment or not?
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Rich Man by J. S. Ellis certainly fits into the psychological thriller genre. It is filled with dubious characters, violent crimes, strip clubs, casinos, and a vulnerable female protagonist.
If you enjoy reading about complex characters with huge flaws, and you like to see plenty of action, this is a great novel for you.
Please remember that the following is only the personal opinion of one reviewer. Other critics may have a completely different reading experience.
The Opening
The opening chapter is told entirely from Sinclair’s viewpoint and does successfully introduce him and the novel’s main conflict. However, the narrative did not immerse me in the story for reasons given below in the section on prose.
To me, the first chapter was what some critics call an “info dump”. It provided the reader with a brief sketch of Sinclair’s backstory, like a mini-biography. But it was not done in an active way (as an aside while he is performing some action). Instead, we have no idea where Sinclair is and what he’s doing while he’s saying/thinking his anecdotes.
Despite this, the opening does provide a kind of hook because the events he’s describing are interesting. Many readers will be encouraged to continue reading to learn more about this enigmatic man. However, the hook would be much stronger if the information was presented in a more active way with Sinclair actually doing something.
The second chapter is far superior, and Elena is introduced very well.
The Characters
Elena is a wonderfully sympathetic character. Having just been dumped by her boyfriend, readers will feel sorry for her. Also, she is very much an underdog. As the story progresses, the more we learn about her the more we invest in her as a character.
Sinclair is not the world’s most sympathetic character, but he is really interesting. His complex character may be enough to keep the attention of readers and engage them in the story.
Despite having suffered some level of child abuse during his youth, Sinclair’s behavior is disproportionately violent and lacking in empathy. It is often difficult to empathize with his motives and actions.
His treatment of employees is most certainly not a great business model that would encourage staff loyalty and improve productivity. In the real world, he would run out of willing employees within days.
Acey is also not a sympathetic character. The excuses he makes for himself don’t pass the simplest logic test. He’s just a jinx to everyone he meets in the worst possible way, and he doesn’t allow any sense of blame or responsibility to stick to his conscience.
The Plot
Overall, the plot is fabulous. This is an action-packed story. It is never boring, and there is no midpoint slump. The climax is shocking, and the book has an interesting ending. However, I personally had a few issues with plausibility along the way.
For example, at the midpoint of the story, Acey speaks to Elena in a vehicle, and this marks a turning point to the relationship arc in this romance novel. However, any woman in Elena’s position would demonstrate some level of denial, especially when the messenger has proved so unreliable in the past. To me, Elena’s lack of denial was implausible.
I hesitate to give more examples because that would provide spoilers.
The Setting
Generally, the setting is clear. However, in the opening chapter, it would have been nice to see, smell, and feel where Sinclair is as he’s thinking about his life.
Often throughout the story, it would have been nice to see more sensory information. For example, when Elena practices firing a gun, we need to smell the cordite, see the smoke, hear the deafening shot (since she never wears ear protection), and feel the strong recoil from the point of view of a slim and light female.
Many minor elements of the setting were implausible. For example, Sinclair proposes using a private jet to fly from Devon to London. A helicopter would make sense, as it could land in a field in Devon and atop a building in London. A jet is not so practical. The transfers to and from the airports would likely take longer than a simple drive from Devon into the city. A train ride would be even quicker.
On another occasion, Sinclair recalled earning £700 for his first drug deal as a child. He was only a mule and this was his first job. The customer was a group of students. Unless those students accepted delivery of £20k+ of stock, this is an unlikely level of pay. It made me feel that Ellis has not adequately researched the topic of organized crime before writing her novel.
Acey mentions having to pay tax on his poker wins. There is no tax applicable to poker winnings in the UK, and any British person who plays poker regularly is aware of this. This is another area where more research would have been beneficial.
Toward the end of the story, Elena is concerned about being followed or observed doing certain actions and meeting certain people. She has reason to believe that powerful and well-connected people may be keeping tabs on her. Yet not once does she worry about who texts her on her cellphone or that her calls might be recorded.
Butch does like his Smart cars!
The Prose
There are multiple problems with the narrative. While I enjoyed this story, I felt that it should have been better polished and edited before publication.
Show & Tell
The most obvious problem is that the story in the first chapter is told rather than shown. The opening scene is too general, without focus, rather than specific, set in a specified time and place.
Instead of a scene that the reader can visualize, Sinclair gives us an abstract internal monologue. He isn’t actually doing anything at the time. He simply recaps his recent life history for us without any associated actions.
For the story to be shown rather than told, Sinclair would have to wander around, for example, his office, and look at a photo of his wife as he’s thinking about her. He would open a bank account file on his computer and look at the transactions as he’s thinking about Acey. Sinclair would tie his backstory thoughts to actions happening right now as the story is established.
Transitions
Sometimes, the scene skips without a clear transition. For example, in Chapter Three, Sinclair speaks with an employee in his office about Elena, and then suddenly he’s sitting in the audience at a cabaret watching Elena perform on stage.
Continuity
There are also continuity errors. Again using Chapter Three as an example, Sinclair is speaking with Vladimir about his tie. Then there is a knock at the door, and Vladimir enters. Unless there are two Vladimirs, this is impossible.
Here’s another example three-quarters of the way through the novel. Butcher attempts to arrange a meeting between Elena and Acey in a hotel bathroom. When we get to the next paragraph, we’re in the next day and Elena receives a text from Acey. The bathroom meeting is completely lost without even a reaction from Elena to say or think she won’t go.
Simple Errors
There are multiple typos throughout the book. For example, “all saying what stunner I am”, “Not all children are born lucky, some more unfortunate than others”, and “I’m a dancer, how my life turned out this way?”
Repetition & Redundancy
Occasionally, whole scenes are repeated from a different character’s viewpoint. In some novels, this can be enlightening, teaching us something we didn’t realize about the scene. In The Rich Man, it often comes across as repetitive.
For example, at the beginning of Part Two, we get Acey’s viewpoint about events in Devon prior to the story’s beginning. We have already read these details from Sinclair’s viewpoint and nothing new is added.
In novels where this repetition is done appropriately, the scenes are sketched in such a way that major facts and actions are unseen by the viewpoint character during the first run through. This allows the reader to be surprised by new revelations during the second run-through. Here, we had the same level of detail in both tellings.
Time Flow
The time flow is occasionally confusing. Instead of being linear, which is generally best, it goes back and forth more frequently than the plot in The Time Traveler’s Wife.
For example, the first and the second time we see Acey and Butch together appear to be different events before and after Butch visits Sinclair’s casino. After quite some reflection, I realized the two meetings are actually the same meeting but divided by a flashback to the casino.
Throughout the story, we read flashback scenes that are not well transitioned. This often left this reader unsure where in time he was.
Style
Sometimes sentences are ambiguous. For example: “I watch her as she sleeps with a glass of whisky in one hand, a cigarette in the other.” Because of the word order within this sentence, it literally means that the female main object of this sentence is sleeping with a cigarette and a glass in her hands. However, when you read on, it becomes clear that it is the subject of the sentence who is holding the items and not the female.
Some sentences incorporate unnecessarily repeated words. For example: “I call my mum but she doesn’t take the call,” which would sound better as, “I call my mum, but she doesn’t answer.” Similarly, “I offered him a new identity as a new man,” which could simply be cut short, “I offered him a new identity.”
Another example: “I don’t care with who you’ve been with, you’re with me now.” Ignoring the grammar issue concerning “who” because the speaker is relatively uneducated, using “with” three times in one sentence is sloppy. Given this was a spoken sentence, it could be accepted as colloquial. Even so, it would be simpler and more succinct to say, “I don’t care who you dated before, you’re with me now.”
Ellis or her copy editor would benefit from a basic style guide, such as The Oxford Guide to Style. Some of the sentences in this book are six or seven clauses long, especially in dialogue where clipped sentences might be more realistic. Many longer sentences include two independent clauses linked by a conjunction, but commas are rarely brought into use.
Dialogue frequently uses incorrect punctuation. For example:
‘Is it?’ She asks, not convinced.
'…you never had a father figure in your life like other children?’ She asks.
Note that the single quotation marks are NOT an error. That is simply a British publishing standard. In this case, it is the capitalized pronouns — She.
Voice
Although the story is set in the UK and the voice of the male protagonist is predominantly British, there are occasional lapses into American English. For example: “…asked if I’d like to make a quick buck. All I had to do was transport pot to a group of college kids.”
A British person would think: “…asked if I’d like to make a few quid. All I had to do was deliver weed to some students.” Alternatively, “ganja” or “skunk” might be used to mean cannabis depending upon where the speaker lived. “Pot” is not a word used in the UK to describe a drug.
The big problem with errors in the voice, or in the specific UK setting, is that it can disrupt the reader’s “suspension of disbelief”. This prevents readers from truly immersing themselves in a story.
My Opinion
I feel I must reiterate this is only the subjective opinion of one reviewer. The Rich Man by J. S. Ellis is a crime romance with much potential. However, my honest opinion is that it has been published too quickly and requires further editing.
Based on the good quality of the characters and the superb plot, I am going to award this romance thriller a score of 3 out of 5. With the subpar editing, I cannot justify a grade above 3.
Why not give The Rich Man a read to see if you agree with my assessment or not?
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 26, 2021
I read "The Rich Man" in one day. It is a gripping suspense novel full of people with deadly secrets. Elena wants real love with a man who is in for the long haul. Unfortunately, her longest romance was off and on over 8 years. Then, her childhood friend that she had always been a little bit in love with showed up in her life unexpectedly, had a whirlwind romance, then disappeared. Then, a sophisticated, handsome rich man, Sinclair Diamond sees her dance at a men's club and asks her out. However, men in black suits accompany Sinclair everywhere and escort Elena within his properties. I found myself hoping that somehow Elena is able to build a life with the love she deserves, but as the darkness gathers, the odds are against her. I thank the author for an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 3, 2021
The Rich Man truly sucked me into the story! A fast-paced thriller, with some wild twists and turns, I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in this story of gangsters and innocent bystanders. (So much so that I read it in one sitting. I appreciated the quickness of the storyline.) The only issue I had with this one is the writing felt a bit choppy - further polish and editing could have really pushed this into 5-star land.
Beware there is a true cliffhanger at the end of this one! I would love to know if/how this story could continue.
Thank you to Book Sirens & author J.S. Ellis for the free review copy. All opinions are my own.
Beware there is a true cliffhanger at the end of this one! I would love to know if/how this story could continue.
Thank you to Book Sirens & author J.S. Ellis for the free review copy. All opinions are my own.
March 16, 2021
The Rich Man by J.S Ellis is a great story to read. I really enjoyed reading this story and I can not wait to read more from this author in the future. I recommend this story to everyone who likes reading about romantic suspense and thrillers.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 29, 2021
To say this book annoyed me would be an understatement – which was even more of a let-down as the blurb was so promising and I enjoyed one of J.S. Ellis' other books. At many points throughout this I wanted to throw the book across the room, or slap Elena. Though if you like the whole controlling man and meek besotted girl, you'll like this.
At the very beginning when Sinclair is introduced there's some odd jumping around of timelines and locations which confused me as I couldn't get my bearings. That soon stopped so I think it was meant to be memories in his mind but it's not made very clear? However, it was interesting to find out about Sinclair's personality and past.
Immediately from the offset Elena doesn't like Sinclair's demeanour (the controlling behaviour), but she just seems to accept it and not want to annoy him because he's so gorgeous – have a backbone! Then suddenly she's over the moon in love even though he does thing which are clearly wrong, but she never questions it? It just seemed implausible that she could fall for him when there were so many red flags.
Additionally when Elena receives information (from an unreliable source) about what Sinclair does for a living, she completely accepts it with no questions – seems odd for someone so head-over-heels with him, there's no argument or denial. Plus I have issues with things that happen later on with her, seems very out of character.
The reason it got 2 stars instead of 1 was because I enjoyed the purely Sinclair elements, it was the relationship between Sinclair and Elena I didn't like. I would say the majority of this is a “romance” novel with a small bit of thriller thrown in – so it might be for you, it just wasn't for me.
*I received a complimentary copy of the e-book from BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving an honest review
At the very beginning when Sinclair is introduced there's some odd jumping around of timelines and locations which confused me as I couldn't get my bearings. That soon stopped so I think it was meant to be memories in his mind but it's not made very clear? However, it was interesting to find out about Sinclair's personality and past.
Immediately from the offset Elena doesn't like Sinclair's demeanour (the controlling behaviour), but she just seems to accept it and not want to annoy him because he's so gorgeous – have a backbone! Then suddenly she's over the moon in love even though he does thing which are clearly wrong, but she never questions it? It just seemed implausible that she could fall for him when there were so many red flags.
Additionally when Elena receives information (from an unreliable source) about what Sinclair does for a living, she completely accepts it with no questions – seems odd for someone so head-over-heels with him, there's no argument or denial. Plus I have issues with things that happen later on with her, seems very out of character.
The reason it got 2 stars instead of 1 was because I enjoyed the purely Sinclair elements, it was the relationship between Sinclair and Elena I didn't like. I would say the majority of this is a “romance” novel with a small bit of thriller thrown in – so it might be for you, it just wasn't for me.
*I received a complimentary copy of the e-book from BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving an honest review
April 25, 2021
I enjoyed this book ! Started off slow but took off towards the end. I would've liked the characters to have a little more depth to them. I liked how it ended with a cliffhanger and possibly left it open for a second book. I would recommend this book to other people.
May 7, 2021
I really struggled to make my way through this book for several reasons. One of the main ones being that there were no really likeable characters. Elena was naive, spineless and foolish (bordering on stupid) and Acey was selfish and greedy. Sinclair was a liar, mean and nasty. He literally had no redeeming qualities. As I went through the story I was constantly wishing that it would turn out that he was a big bad gangster in business but with someone he loved he’d just be a big teddy bear. I can get on board with that. I don’t mind him being a bad boy who is protective of those he loves but no! He wasn’t like that at all! I couldn’t find a single thing that I liked about him or find any reason other than his apparent good looks that would make Elena rush into this relationship with him. Even Elena’s mother wasn’t likeable. She was horrible, critical and had a terrible attitude towards her only daughter. Considering they were supposedly really close since Elena’s father died and her mother raised her alone, she didn’t think twice about calling her daughter a gold-digger. There were also areas where people seemed to act completely out of character or did things that made no sense at all and didn’t fit with what we knew of the person.
Another problem I had was that it needs a lot of editing. There were a few continuity errors, general punctuation and repetitive words errors and there were a few Americanisms that just wouldn’t be used in the London and south of England areas but I could get past those. What really annoyed me though was that there was nothing to denote a change of scene. All it needed was an extra return so there was a gap between the paragraphs or a symbol (*** or ---) and it would’ve helped follow the story so much easier. Instead you are left disorientated and wondering what’s going on for a minute. A prime example of this was a scene where Elena visits her mum, they end up arguing and Elena storms out. The next paragraph starts with her wiping her nose on a tissue and throwing it into the bin but missing. Initially I’m left thinking, “Oh that’s going to affect her dramatic exit because she’s going to have to go and pick that up before she can storm out.” Then all of a sudden Sinclair is there to comfort her. “But wait a minute, he wasn’t at her mum’s house with her so what’s happening?” What’s happening is the scene has changed but there is nothing that makes that obvious. It completely disrupts the flow of the story and seriously impacts my enjoyment. I like to just sit down and get lost in a book for a while but I can’t do that if I’m constantly trying to figure out what’s happening. It disrupts the movie reel that plays in my mind when I’m reading and means I can’t picture what’s happening properly.
I really struggled to figure out the timeframe that this was all happening in. I have no idea if the main body of the story covered a couple of weeks or a couple of months. It also awkwardly jumps between characters and times and again disorientates you and makes it hard to follow. One chapter is from person 1’s POV when they meet up with person 2, then the next chapter will be from person 2's POV but will start before the meeting with person 1 but doesn’t make it clear and isn’t apparent until you get to the place where they meet person 1. Again all it would need is a heading saying “The Previous Day" or something like that but it doesn’t so you leave 1 chapter in one place and time and assume the next chapter follows on after that when it actually jumps back in time. It isn’t made clear that the timeline isn’t exactly chronological. There are a few flashback scenes that aren’t always made clear immediately and leaves you a bit confused.
Finally the last thing that ruined my enjoyment of this book was the ending. It felt very rushed after all this build up and then it was over in a couple of pages and not in this big bang type of way either, it was just a bit anticlimactic. It also has one of those cliffhanger type endings that won’t ever be continued. One that, even though you can guess what happened you aren’t explicitly told. And even if you think that’s how it ends you can’t be sure because circumstances have changed so you are left with no real conclusion. I personally find those endings really annoying because I like a definite conclusion but if you don’t mind that you’ll probably like the way this one is done.
For the most part, with a good editor to tidy this up, the writing itself wouldn’t be awful but as it is at the moment it really affects your enjoyment of it. I’m really disappointed with this as the description made it sound really intriguing but it just didn’t live up to expectations. Considering I usually read a book within a couple of days but this one took me 5 weeks it might give you an idea of how much I enjoyed this. Unfortunately it just didn’t hook me enough to want to pick it up to continue reading and I found it a real struggle to make it to the end. I have heard good things about this author though and had some of her other books recommended so I won't let it put me off trying another one of her books but sadly this one wasn't for me.
Another problem I had was that it needs a lot of editing. There were a few continuity errors, general punctuation and repetitive words errors and there were a few Americanisms that just wouldn’t be used in the London and south of England areas but I could get past those. What really annoyed me though was that there was nothing to denote a change of scene. All it needed was an extra return so there was a gap between the paragraphs or a symbol (*** or ---) and it would’ve helped follow the story so much easier. Instead you are left disorientated and wondering what’s going on for a minute. A prime example of this was a scene where Elena visits her mum, they end up arguing and Elena storms out. The next paragraph starts with her wiping her nose on a tissue and throwing it into the bin but missing. Initially I’m left thinking, “Oh that’s going to affect her dramatic exit because she’s going to have to go and pick that up before she can storm out.” Then all of a sudden Sinclair is there to comfort her. “But wait a minute, he wasn’t at her mum’s house with her so what’s happening?” What’s happening is the scene has changed but there is nothing that makes that obvious. It completely disrupts the flow of the story and seriously impacts my enjoyment. I like to just sit down and get lost in a book for a while but I can’t do that if I’m constantly trying to figure out what’s happening. It disrupts the movie reel that plays in my mind when I’m reading and means I can’t picture what’s happening properly.
I really struggled to figure out the timeframe that this was all happening in. I have no idea if the main body of the story covered a couple of weeks or a couple of months. It also awkwardly jumps between characters and times and again disorientates you and makes it hard to follow. One chapter is from person 1’s POV when they meet up with person 2, then the next chapter will be from person 2's POV but will start before the meeting with person 1 but doesn’t make it clear and isn’t apparent until you get to the place where they meet person 1. Again all it would need is a heading saying “The Previous Day" or something like that but it doesn’t so you leave 1 chapter in one place and time and assume the next chapter follows on after that when it actually jumps back in time. It isn’t made clear that the timeline isn’t exactly chronological. There are a few flashback scenes that aren’t always made clear immediately and leaves you a bit confused.
Finally the last thing that ruined my enjoyment of this book was the ending. It felt very rushed after all this build up and then it was over in a couple of pages and not in this big bang type of way either, it was just a bit anticlimactic. It also has one of those cliffhanger type endings that won’t ever be continued. One that, even though you can guess what happened you aren’t explicitly told. And even if you think that’s how it ends you can’t be sure because circumstances have changed so you are left with no real conclusion. I personally find those endings really annoying because I like a definite conclusion but if you don’t mind that you’ll probably like the way this one is done.
For the most part, with a good editor to tidy this up, the writing itself wouldn’t be awful but as it is at the moment it really affects your enjoyment of it. I’m really disappointed with this as the description made it sound really intriguing but it just didn’t live up to expectations. Considering I usually read a book within a couple of days but this one took me 5 weeks it might give you an idea of how much I enjoyed this. Unfortunately it just didn’t hook me enough to want to pick it up to continue reading and I found it a real struggle to make it to the end. I have heard good things about this author though and had some of her other books recommended so I won't let it put me off trying another one of her books but sadly this one wasn't for me.
February 2, 2021
This novel lived up to its name as a psychological thriller! The story keeps you guessing about where you will end up by the last page and entertains you throughout! One warning is that this novel ends as a set up for a sequel where everything does not wrap itself up perfectly at the end. I do not know if there will be a sequel as I do not recall seeing anything about it, so it could be a cliff hanger ending that leaves the true ending up to the reader. It was a thrilling novel that brings you in right at the beginning as we get some exposition and the darker tone is set. The reader navigates through three main characters’ lives and attempts to figure out what is real and what is not and, most importantly, how everything fits together.
Each chapter alternates mainly between our two central characters, Sinclair and Elena, and occasionally you get the point of view of Acey. The novel opens with Sinclair Diamond, who gives some exposition about who he is and also what events are setting this story in motion. As it is mainly an exposition type chapter, it did not grip me immediately into wanting to continue. The story picks up when we meet Elena Gomez in the next chapter. When I read her chapter, I was hooked to continue as I wanted to see where this novel would be going. Although I was not super thrilled with the first chapter, I understand why it is necessary as it gave background that did not be to addressed again in detail later on which helped move the story along at a decent pace. Elena just had her heartbroken when her boyfriend Acey, a charming poker player, disappeared one day without warning. She applies for a job as a dancer at a cabaret-ish club to supplement her income from her day job as a receptionist. At the club, she meets Sinclair. He is there to seduce Elena as he believes she is the key to finding Acey, who stole a large amount of money from him.
Our stories begin to further intertwine at this first meeting between Elena and Sinclair as he asks her out to dinner and she agrees. Sinclair woos Elena with his vast wealth and larger than life living, due to him being a gangster. Over time, Elena learns pieces about the true Sinclair and has to figure out if she wants to be with him or not and also want the overall truth is surrounding his character. There is also the added addition of Acey and whether Sinclair will get his revenge or not. The story goes between all of the characters as we navigate the story to see how everything will turn out.
The writing is easy to follow and I read this in a couple of days. The pace is great as it does not drag at all. The story keeps you guessing in one way, but there are some sentences/pieces that do spell everything out, which can be either a good thing or a bad thing to a reader. For me, I wish these parts were left out as I prefer to piece each tiny fragment together and then have the big reveal later on (I enjoy both small reveals over time and big reveal at the end type novels). There is some repetition for some parts as the story is first told from one point of view and then retold from a different character’s. I both enjoyed and disliked this as I felt that it was incredibly interesting to read two perspectives on one event, but I felt it was written a little too moment for moment and felt repetitive. It is definitely reader specific though as some will love it and some will not.
Overall, this was a fantastic thriller. Elena is a very sympathetic character and she becomes the glue between Sinclair and Acey and I found myself caring about her portion of the story the most. The story picks up quickly with the different events occurring and it was nice to see the romance between Sinclair and Elena developed. There were some aspects that I would have done differently, but it is just my preferences. I would recommend this to anyone who wants an entertaining thriller read!
**I give a special thank you to Booksirens, the publisher and the author for the ARC to read and review. The opinions expressed are completely my own.**
Each chapter alternates mainly between our two central characters, Sinclair and Elena, and occasionally you get the point of view of Acey. The novel opens with Sinclair Diamond, who gives some exposition about who he is and also what events are setting this story in motion. As it is mainly an exposition type chapter, it did not grip me immediately into wanting to continue. The story picks up when we meet Elena Gomez in the next chapter. When I read her chapter, I was hooked to continue as I wanted to see where this novel would be going. Although I was not super thrilled with the first chapter, I understand why it is necessary as it gave background that did not be to addressed again in detail later on which helped move the story along at a decent pace. Elena just had her heartbroken when her boyfriend Acey, a charming poker player, disappeared one day without warning. She applies for a job as a dancer at a cabaret-ish club to supplement her income from her day job as a receptionist. At the club, she meets Sinclair. He is there to seduce Elena as he believes she is the key to finding Acey, who stole a large amount of money from him.
Our stories begin to further intertwine at this first meeting between Elena and Sinclair as he asks her out to dinner and she agrees. Sinclair woos Elena with his vast wealth and larger than life living, due to him being a gangster. Over time, Elena learns pieces about the true Sinclair and has to figure out if she wants to be with him or not and also want the overall truth is surrounding his character. There is also the added addition of Acey and whether Sinclair will get his revenge or not. The story goes between all of the characters as we navigate the story to see how everything will turn out.
The writing is easy to follow and I read this in a couple of days. The pace is great as it does not drag at all. The story keeps you guessing in one way, but there are some sentences/pieces that do spell everything out, which can be either a good thing or a bad thing to a reader. For me, I wish these parts were left out as I prefer to piece each tiny fragment together and then have the big reveal later on (I enjoy both small reveals over time and big reveal at the end type novels). There is some repetition for some parts as the story is first told from one point of view and then retold from a different character’s. I both enjoyed and disliked this as I felt that it was incredibly interesting to read two perspectives on one event, but I felt it was written a little too moment for moment and felt repetitive. It is definitely reader specific though as some will love it and some will not.
Overall, this was a fantastic thriller. Elena is a very sympathetic character and she becomes the glue between Sinclair and Acey and I found myself caring about her portion of the story the most. The story picks up quickly with the different events occurring and it was nice to see the romance between Sinclair and Elena developed. There were some aspects that I would have done differently, but it is just my preferences. I would recommend this to anyone who wants an entertaining thriller read!
**I give a special thank you to Booksirens, the publisher and the author for the ARC to read and review. The opinions expressed are completely my own.**
January 19, 2021
Elena has just had her heart broken. Her boyfriend Acey just up and left her without any indication as to why. She works as a receptionist by day at a law firm and just recently started as a dancer at a night club. One night while working at the club, she is asked for by name by a mysterious yet very handsome older gentleman, Sinclair Diamond. Despite her protests at first, she agreed to have dinner with him. Sinclair is a very rich and powerful man. That's not all though. He's also a gangster. A force that nobody in their right mind wants to recon with. Sinclair sets out to find Elena. Why would a rich and powerful man that could have any woman his heart desires want a dancer from a club? With expensive gifts, exquisite dinners, trips to Paris, a girl could get used to this, until she finds out what the real Sinclair Diamond is like and why he is so set on making her his forever. Will Elena find out the truth behind it all before she makes the biggest mistake of her life? How many secrets will she uncover before it's too late?
I ripped through this book in just two days time. It was a fairly easy read and I just couldn't help but get caught up in the storyline. I was a little angry when I read the last line, but I won't spoil it for others. I really enjoyed this book. There were a couple times throughout the book that I got a little confused as the transition wasn't as fluid as it was in other places. All in all, it was written nicely and kept me interested. I was given a copy of this book for free from Booksirens in exchange for my honest review. I rate this ⭐⭐⭐⭐.
I ripped through this book in just two days time. It was a fairly easy read and I just couldn't help but get caught up in the storyline. I was a little angry when I read the last line, but I won't spoil it for others. I really enjoyed this book. There were a couple times throughout the book that I got a little confused as the transition wasn't as fluid as it was in other places. All in all, it was written nicely and kept me interested. I was given a copy of this book for free from Booksirens in exchange for my honest review. I rate this ⭐⭐⭐⭐.
February 22, 2021
Really not for me at all.
Panto villain Sinclair decides to get back at a man who swindled him out of some money by having an affair with his ex-girlfriend Elena, the world's most innocent, childlike and youngest exotic dancer; becoming obsessed with possesing her in the process. None of the characters in this book have a personality, they are just stereotypes - the naive girl, the gangster, the charming rogue, even Elena's strip club friend the tart with the heart. Sinclair has no motive for killing people and no fear of retribution or from the police, violence is just a casual thing with no meaning as we don't care about the characters he kills. She is used by all the male characters to get what they want and she's frequently described in terms of being small and young. The worst thing is that she is described as being turned on by the thought he's a gangster. I found this book really disappointing. I don't think it works as a thriller, it's more of a romance but it doesn't work as that either as the sex scenes are brief and full of bad language. I am not sure if the readers are supposed to pity Eleanor for getting into the situation or envy her for the lavish lifestyle (which like Anastasia Steele she shuns anyway). All I know is that she has no agency whatsoever. He just has to look at her and she caves.
I received a free advanced review copy from booksirens and leave this review voluntarily.
Panto villain Sinclair decides to get back at a man who swindled him out of some money by having an affair with his ex-girlfriend Elena, the world's most innocent, childlike and youngest exotic dancer; becoming obsessed with possesing her in the process. None of the characters in this book have a personality, they are just stereotypes - the naive girl, the gangster, the charming rogue, even Elena's strip club friend the tart with the heart. Sinclair has no motive for killing people and no fear of retribution or from the police, violence is just a casual thing with no meaning as we don't care about the characters he kills. She is used by all the male characters to get what they want and she's frequently described in terms of being small and young. The worst thing is that she is described as being turned on by the thought he's a gangster. I found this book really disappointing. I don't think it works as a thriller, it's more of a romance but it doesn't work as that either as the sex scenes are brief and full of bad language. I am not sure if the readers are supposed to pity Eleanor for getting into the situation or envy her for the lavish lifestyle (which like Anastasia Steele she shuns anyway). All I know is that she has no agency whatsoever. He just has to look at her and she caves.
I received a free advanced review copy from booksirens and leave this review voluntarily.
February 2, 2021
This book has left me😲😲, it has kept me hooked from the first page.
Sinclair, the rich man, is a very interesting and sinister character. He is in his late forties, rich, handsome, owner of several casinos, clubs, hotels, restaurants... and he is trigger happy. He doesn’t bear liar and thieves. His first wife Susie suffered it in her flesh. And now it’s the turn of Acey, a professional poker player, who has stolen a million from him.
Sinclair is unable to find Acey so he plans to get him out of his hiding place by going after Elena, a girl who has been related to him.
Elena is a 27 year-old woman who has suffered in her relationships. Her first live cheated on her many times and then Acey leaves her without saying anything.
So when she meets Sinclair she is a bit suspicious at first, but he manages to make her fall in love with him.
Their relationship evolves very fast and Elena doesn’t hesitate to leave everything to be with him, but when she begins to discover who he really is, she realizes that she has to stop being the naive and good girl to become someone ruthless if she wants to survive.
I’m dying to read a continuation of this book. Both characters, Sinclair and Elena, can still give a lot of play and the end leaves you wanting more.
I haven’t read any book by this author until this one, but of course this will not be the last.
Sinclair, the rich man, is a very interesting and sinister character. He is in his late forties, rich, handsome, owner of several casinos, clubs, hotels, restaurants... and he is trigger happy. He doesn’t bear liar and thieves. His first wife Susie suffered it in her flesh. And now it’s the turn of Acey, a professional poker player, who has stolen a million from him.
Sinclair is unable to find Acey so he plans to get him out of his hiding place by going after Elena, a girl who has been related to him.
Elena is a 27 year-old woman who has suffered in her relationships. Her first live cheated on her many times and then Acey leaves her without saying anything.
So when she meets Sinclair she is a bit suspicious at first, but he manages to make her fall in love with him.
Their relationship evolves very fast and Elena doesn’t hesitate to leave everything to be with him, but when she begins to discover who he really is, she realizes that she has to stop being the naive and good girl to become someone ruthless if she wants to survive.
I’m dying to read a continuation of this book. Both characters, Sinclair and Elena, can still give a lot of play and the end leaves you wanting more.
I haven’t read any book by this author until this one, but of course this will not be the last.
January 10, 2021
Written from the perspectives of the three key characters, J.S Ellis’ “The Rich Man” is a great read. Sinclair Diamond is allergic to liars and thieves. This character is ruthless and will go to drastic ends to ensure that people who cross his path pay dearly for their misdeeds. Acey is a charming poker player who paints the picture of extravagance and recklessness. The glue that binds both these key protagonists is Elena Gomez, a naïve and beautiful woman. Acey belongs in her past while Sinclair is determined to be her future. It is a game of cat and mouse when Acey’s impulsivity causes a chain reaction. The varying locations of London, Devon and the English countryside also set the varying tones. The elements of survival, revenge and strategy are examined. This book is layered with romance, suspense and thriller. There were a couple of scenes that were confronting and moments where my jaw dropped. A 4-star read!
A thank you to J.S Ellis for giving me an ARC of this book. This honest review is left voluntarily.
A thank you to J.S Ellis for giving me an ARC of this book. This honest review is left voluntarily.
July 7, 2022
I read "The Rich Man" in one day. It is a gripping suspense novel full of people with deadly secrets. Elena wants real love with a man who is in for the long haul. Unfortunately, her longest romance was off and on over 8 years. Then, her childhood friend that she had always been a little bit in love with showed up in her life unexpectedly, had a whirlwind romance, then disappeared. Then, a sophisticated, handsome rich man, Sinclair Diamond sees her dance at a men's club and asks her out. However, men in black suits accompany Sinclair everywhere and escort Elena within his properties. I found myself hoping that somehow Elena is able to build a life with the love she deserves, but as the darkness gathers, the odds are against her. I thank the author for an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 11, 2021
Ooo… I so enjoyed this novel. Told in rotating perspectives of the three main characters, The Rich Man was a thoroughly engaging and thrilling read that kept me turning pages from beginning to end.
I loved the dark and dangerous Sinclair Diamond and the sweet and mostly innocent Elena Gomez. The two wouldn’t normally cross paths, but an impulse decision by Acey Sumemrs pushes the two of them together and starts a series of events that forces all three of them to face past and current decisions. Layered with intensity, romance and drama, the plot was well-crafted and full of suspense.
Thank you JS Ellis for my ARC copy and I will definitely be looking for more by this author!
I loved the dark and dangerous Sinclair Diamond and the sweet and mostly innocent Elena Gomez. The two wouldn’t normally cross paths, but an impulse decision by Acey Sumemrs pushes the two of them together and starts a series of events that forces all three of them to face past and current decisions. Layered with intensity, romance and drama, the plot was well-crafted and full of suspense.
Thank you JS Ellis for my ARC copy and I will definitely be looking for more by this author!
January 25, 2021
I think the best part is the ending it gets you all geared up for a sequel. Also Im not really sure if this story qualifies as a psychological suspense. Only because I think we were being eased into Elena story and not thrown in head first.
I feel like it has a similar vibe as “The Last Mrs Parrish” by Liv Constantine but doesn’t go as far.
The story centers on Elena, Acey and Sin. But mostly Elena the poor victim of circumstances who now has to learn how to navigate the dangers waters Acey dropped her in. Honestly she would have honestly been better off dancing in Devon. I did enjoy the story but was a-little frustrated with scene transitions and that I was overthinking every part of the story. If your a fan of “The Last Mrs Parish” you should probably give this story a shot.
I feel like it has a similar vibe as “The Last Mrs Parrish” by Liv Constantine but doesn’t go as far.
The story centers on Elena, Acey and Sin. But mostly Elena the poor victim of circumstances who now has to learn how to navigate the dangers waters Acey dropped her in. Honestly she would have honestly been better off dancing in Devon. I did enjoy the story but was a-little frustrated with scene transitions and that I was overthinking every part of the story. If your a fan of “The Last Mrs Parish” you should probably give this story a shot.
February 2, 2021
Would classify this as a romantic suspense thriller. The book basically evolves around three characters who you will know intimately. Sinclair, the man who you love to hate but yet hopes he gets the love of his life. Elena, a naive 27 year old woman, who you would like to shake some sense into. Acey, a professional poker player who does foolish things and should know better. Their lives intertwine with surprising consequences, which you may not see coming. At times the book can be a bit gruesome, so be forewarned. Did enjoy the book but felt the ending was open ended. You have to draw your own conclusions as to how their story ends. Recommend. Received an ARC and this is my voluntary honest review.
January 16, 2021
This is the first book by JS Ellis and I will read other books by her. Initially, I found the first chapter difficult to get into. However, I was completely drawn into the story with the second chapter. This is a psychological venture into one man’s criminal world that reveals how one person’s actions has a domino effect on others. The main characters tell the story creating a web filled with suspicion, vengeance and violence. I think I liked the ending because it was realistic but also allowed me to think there may be another option.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 17, 2021
I generally enjoyed this book, it moved along at a good pace, and I'd like to thank Book Sirens for sending me a free copy.
The story is told in alternating chapters between Elena, Sinclair, and occasionally Acey.
Sinclair is a rich brutal gangster, whom Acey steals £1m from. When Sinclair discovers he has been hiding with Elena he decides to seduce her to gain revenge.
Initially reluctant, Elena soon falls in love with him, even as she discovers his true self.
In places, I felt that the story was too spelt out, and I'd have preferred a less 'obvious' telling of the story, a bit more 'show not tell', but it was enjoyable enough
The story is told in alternating chapters between Elena, Sinclair, and occasionally Acey.
Sinclair is a rich brutal gangster, whom Acey steals £1m from. When Sinclair discovers he has been hiding with Elena he decides to seduce her to gain revenge.
Initially reluctant, Elena soon falls in love with him, even as she discovers his true self.
In places, I felt that the story was too spelt out, and I'd have preferred a less 'obvious' telling of the story, a bit more 'show not tell', but it was enjoyable enough
February 2, 2021
This is about a love gone wrong. At first, Elena couldn't believe her luck. A wealthy man wanting to date her and then marry her. Sinclair actually had a devious reason for giving Elena his attention, Acey a man both of them knew has stolen from him. No one steals from Sinclair and gets away with it! Acey and Elena were an 'item' for a while and now Sinclair is stealing her away from Acey. When Elena finds out the truth, she goes on her own agenda to want to leave him. Can there be a happy "win-win" for all involved? It's not looking promising for some. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.
February 4, 2021
Thank you J.S. Ellis for the ARC.
This was a bit different from the other books by this author. First I want to say that the cover is gorgeous and I like the vibe it gives. The story starts slowly before picking up pace and ending with a bang. The book has 3 parts, each told from the POV of the 3 main characters.
While it wasn't exactly a book of my taste, this is a nice psychological thriller. I found it interesting how Elena changed when Sinclair took control over her life.
Sinclair was not my favorite and I didn't like him at all. What he did was wrong and sick.
One thing that I didn't like regarding the plot and action was the excesive use of s** and I jumped over those pages.
This was a bit different from the other books by this author. First I want to say that the cover is gorgeous and I like the vibe it gives. The story starts slowly before picking up pace and ending with a bang. The book has 3 parts, each told from the POV of the 3 main characters.
While it wasn't exactly a book of my taste, this is a nice psychological thriller. I found it interesting how Elena changed when Sinclair took control over her life.
Sinclair was not my favorite and I didn't like him at all. What he did was wrong and sick.
One thing that I didn't like regarding the plot and action was the excesive use of s** and I jumped over those pages.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2021
When I read the first few chapters of this book, I wasn't sure I would finish. I REALLY didn't like the main male character. I realized, however, I wasn't supposed to like him: the book to me is more about the heroine's realizations about herself and the men who have been in her life.
I was surprised by the recipient of Elena's actions near the end of the book; I figured it would have been someone else. I did like that the book ended in a cliff-hanger.
I received an advanced copy of this book for free, and I am leaving my honest review.
I was surprised by the recipient of Elena's actions near the end of the book; I figured it would have been someone else. I did like that the book ended in a cliff-hanger.
I received an advanced copy of this book for free, and I am leaving my honest review.
January 24, 2021
Received an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Rich man, thief and naive dancer all combine in this tale of love and loss. Poor unlucky in love Elena finally meets the man of her dreams, only for the romance turn into a nightmare.
Not a very complex plot told from the perspective of the 3 main characters as their lives become entwined and dragged into the murky underworld of gangsters, gamblers and guns. Story line didn’t always flow properly, especially when the characters were reciting flashbacks, leaving the reader a little confused as to what was going on.
Rich man, thief and naive dancer all combine in this tale of love and loss. Poor unlucky in love Elena finally meets the man of her dreams, only for the romance turn into a nightmare.
Not a very complex plot told from the perspective of the 3 main characters as their lives become entwined and dragged into the murky underworld of gangsters, gamblers and guns. Story line didn’t always flow properly, especially when the characters were reciting flashbacks, leaving the reader a little confused as to what was going on.
January 25, 2021
Helena was in love with AC went missing instead of mourning the loss of him seeing instead decides to not waste her time and shequickly gets the attention of Cinclare a smooth mover with deadly secrets. I really enjoyed this book I didn’t like that it had a cliffhanger at the end, but I love this author and it is so worth reading. I can only think she wants you to assume what happened at the ending, but I don’t know you’ll have to read it for yourself. I received this book from Books sirena and I’m leaving this review voluntarily because it was so worth reading.
September 19, 2022
I flew through this book. It was one I couldn’t put down. Sinclair was not the most liked character. He is your typical man with a big ego who thinks he walks on water and should be worshipped. Acey(favorite character) stole from Sinclair. No one gets away with stealing from Sinclair, including murder?! I liked the stories being told from different perspectives. I was left hanging at the end. I’m hoping for a second book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 31, 2021
This is one book that will have your heart pounding from the first page. I was captivated by Elena and the way she handled herself with everything that was thrown at her. The author kept us in suspense throughout, not knowing what was going to happen on the next page. If you enjoy fast paced thrillers, The Rich Man is one story you won't want to miss. I received this book as an ARC and this is my honest review.
February 7, 2021
This was definitely a psychological thriller! It was one that I felt had so many twists and turns that it was hard to try and decide what will happen next in the plot. If you like this type of genre, I think that you will certainly like this book. I myself haven’t read too many in this genre, but I found it to quite engaging
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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