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Cute Little Hand Grenade
"I wasn’t born bad. I was made this way."
Vicky Sterling has been passed around, beaten quiet, and dragged through the gutters of prostitution and violence. She crawled out sharp. She stayed alive. And through it all, one thing kept her breathing: Simon, her son. Her light.
She swore he’d never know the pain she endured. But when a violent neighbour threatens the only thing she has left, Vicky snaps. The quiet mask shatters. And once her rage is unleashed, there’s no putting it back.
Cute Little Hand Grenade is a raw, darkly funny psychological thriller. A story of motherhood with teeth, trauma that bites back, and vengeance that doesn’t ask permission.
Vicky Sterling has been passed around, beaten quiet, and dragged through the gutters of prostitution and violence. She crawled out sharp. She stayed alive. And through it all, one thing kept her breathing: Simon, her son. Her light.
She swore he’d never know the pain she endured. But when a violent neighbour threatens the only thing she has left, Vicky snaps. The quiet mask shatters. And once her rage is unleashed, there’s no putting it back.
Cute Little Hand Grenade is a raw, darkly funny psychological thriller. A story of motherhood with teeth, trauma that bites back, and vengeance that doesn’t ask permission.
373 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 16, 2019
About the author
Jadella Gold
9 books23 followersStep into the chaos of the Sterling family, start your descent with a free first chapter here → https://www.jadellagold.com
. Violent, unhinged, and impossible to forget.
If you love stories that crawl under your skin, you’re in the right place.
I write psychological crime fiction with sharp edges, flawed characters, and a twist of dark humour, the kind of stories that leave you unsettled, entertained, and sometimes a little complicit.
Born and raised in London, I’ve always been fascinated by what makes people snap, survive, or spiral. My tales never flinch from showing the consequences of choices that cut deep.
My series, Cute Little Hand Grenade, follows characters who push limits, break rules, and occasionally, just snap. Share it with someone unafraid of the dark… or keep it for yourself.
I love hearing from readers. Connect with me at jadellagold@mail.com
or find me on Substack, TikTok, and Instagram for sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes insights, and more dark tales.
. Violent, unhinged, and impossible to forget.
If you love stories that crawl under your skin, you’re in the right place.
I write psychological crime fiction with sharp edges, flawed characters, and a twist of dark humour, the kind of stories that leave you unsettled, entertained, and sometimes a little complicit.
Born and raised in London, I’ve always been fascinated by what makes people snap, survive, or spiral. My tales never flinch from showing the consequences of choices that cut deep.
My series, Cute Little Hand Grenade, follows characters who push limits, break rules, and occasionally, just snap. Share it with someone unafraid of the dark… or keep it for yourself.
I love hearing from readers. Connect with me at jadellagold@mail.com
or find me on Substack, TikTok, and Instagram for sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes insights, and more dark tales.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 17, 2025
wow!!! I was introduced to Jadella Gold's books and I've read the first one. It was so refreshing to read such an original voice. Her unique narrative voice makes you actually feel like she's telling you the story in your living room. 😅 What amazed me about her writing is how she can be so dark and yet you find yourself laughing out loud every other page. She's very talented but very brave to be able to nail that unique combination. Right, I'm sooo ready for Beautiful ticking time bomb 💣
April 21, 2026
I genuinely struggled to get through Cute Little Hand Grenade, and unfortunately, it ended up being one of the most frustrating reading experiences I’ve had.
The POV structure was incredibly difficult to follow. It constantly shifted within the same chapter, and sometimes even within the same paragraph, which made it nearly impossible to stay grounded in the story. Instead of adding depth, it created confusion and pulled me out of the narrative over and over again.
On top of that, the narration style didn’t work for me at all. The author frequently breaks the fourth wall to address the reader directly, and it happens so often that it becomes distracting and awkward rather than engaging. It felt intrusive and disrupted any immersion the story might have had.
One of my biggest issues, however, is with the trigger warnings, or lack thereof. While we are told to expect “Unnecessarily Strong Language,” “Violence,” and “Strong Sexual Reference including rape,” there is no mention that the rape involves a 15-year-old minor. This is a major omission. Not only is it deeply disturbing subject matter, but it is also described in vivid detail. Readers deserve clear and transparent warnings, especially when it involves graphic harm to a child.
Similarly, while “violence” is listed, there is no indication that this includes miscarriage or violence during pregnancy. These are significant and sensitive topics that should have been explicitly disclosed.
There is very little in this book that isn’t tragic, and not in a meaningful or thought-provoking way, just relentlessly heavy and distressing without sufficient care or warning for the reader. I finished it solely so I could give a fair and complete review, but I did not enjoy the experience at all.
I won’t be continuing with this series, nor will I be picking up future works from this author.
The POV structure was incredibly difficult to follow. It constantly shifted within the same chapter, and sometimes even within the same paragraph, which made it nearly impossible to stay grounded in the story. Instead of adding depth, it created confusion and pulled me out of the narrative over and over again.
On top of that, the narration style didn’t work for me at all. The author frequently breaks the fourth wall to address the reader directly, and it happens so often that it becomes distracting and awkward rather than engaging. It felt intrusive and disrupted any immersion the story might have had.
One of my biggest issues, however, is with the trigger warnings, or lack thereof. While we are told to expect “Unnecessarily Strong Language,” “Violence,” and “Strong Sexual Reference including rape,” there is no mention that the rape involves a 15-year-old minor. This is a major omission. Not only is it deeply disturbing subject matter, but it is also described in vivid detail. Readers deserve clear and transparent warnings, especially when it involves graphic harm to a child.
Similarly, while “violence” is listed, there is no indication that this includes miscarriage or violence during pregnancy. These are significant and sensitive topics that should have been explicitly disclosed.
There is very little in this book that isn’t tragic, and not in a meaningful or thought-provoking way, just relentlessly heavy and distressing without sufficient care or warning for the reader. I finished it solely so I could give a fair and complete review, but I did not enjoy the experience at all.
I won’t be continuing with this series, nor will I be picking up future works from this author.
November 18, 2025
Wow this is the first of Jadella’s books that I have read and I will definitely be reading more.
How she can write a psychological thriller that also makes you laugh out aloud is amazing. This book follows Vicky who has had a terrible life, dragged up, violence and prostitution. The only thing that keeps her going is her son. When her son is targeted Vicky comes out fighting.
This books is so emotional and it just goes to show that you don’t mess with a mother’s child.
How she can write a psychological thriller that also makes you laugh out aloud is amazing. This book follows Vicky who has had a terrible life, dragged up, violence and prostitution. The only thing that keeps her going is her son. When her son is targeted Vicky comes out fighting.
This books is so emotional and it just goes to show that you don’t mess with a mother’s child.
December 30, 2025
Cute Little Hand Grenade is a gripping psychological thriller that dives deep into trauma, survival, and the fierce power of motherhood. The characters feel raw and real, the tension never lets up, and the dark humor cuts perfectly through the heaviness. It’s intense, emotional, and impossible to put down. Highly recommended.
January 24, 2026
What a whirl wind book. The main character, Vicky has so many bad things happen to her that you wonder if she will make it to the end of chapter 4 alive. By the end of the book I was sure there would be a happy ending. You will need to read yourself to find out. What I will say, is each book should come with a free voucher for either a bottle of wine for medicinal purposes or for counselling! 🤣
December 29, 2025
Holy moly! What a crazy and amazing book! Absolutely traumatizing and I love it! It was most definitely dark and twisting! I love and hate Vicky Sterling . I am definitely hooked! Well written!
October 23, 2025
Cute Little Hand Grenade is a raw, explosive psychological thriller that gets under your skin and stays there.
Vicky Sterling isn’t your typical heroine — she’s jagged, bruised, and terrifyingly human. A mother clawing her way through trauma, exploitation, and revenge, she becomes both the weapon and the warning.
⚠️ Trigger warnings apply — this story deals with heavy themes of trauma and abuse.
Vicky Sterling isn’t your typical heroine — she’s jagged, bruised, and terrifyingly human. A mother clawing her way through trauma, exploitation, and revenge, she becomes both the weapon and the warning.
⚠️ Trigger warnings apply — this story deals with heavy themes of trauma and abuse.
June 2, 2026
I wanted to love this book more because the plot was decent, but the lack of editing ruined the flow for me. The narrative prose was riddled with spelling and grammar mistakes. If these errors were just confined to character dialogue, it might have felt intentional, but since it was in the general narration, it felt unpolished. A frustrating read, despite the alright storyline.
January 14, 2026
If you believe in unicorns and rainbows, this isnt a book for you! It was a hell of a ride!
This book is one big trigger warning Although I just let my emotional damage roam free. The writing is refreshing, different than all other Books ive read and also funny. The chaotic world of Vicky welcomed me with open arms and got me hooked from the start. I felt so many things while reading (anger, discust, more anger). I couldnt put it away.
For me, something changed in the last half of the book. It felt rushed. (What did happen to that man she was going to hunt down?). It started skipping years and somehow, i lost my connection to Vicky. I didn’t see her as the book described her and didn’t feel all those feelings I had in the beginning anymore.
All in all it was a hell of a ride and I do recommend it. The writing style is refreshing and funny. I am however leaving the world of Vicky behind me. And who knows, maybe I will pick up the next book in a while because sometimes books just need time to marinade.
This book is one big trigger warning Although I just let my emotional damage roam free. The writing is refreshing, different than all other Books ive read and also funny. The chaotic world of Vicky welcomed me with open arms and got me hooked from the start. I felt so many things while reading (anger, discust, more anger). I couldnt put it away.
For me, something changed in the last half of the book. It felt rushed. (What did happen to that man she was going to hunt down?). It started skipping years and somehow, i lost my connection to Vicky. I didn’t see her as the book described her and didn’t feel all those feelings I had in the beginning anymore.
All in all it was a hell of a ride and I do recommend it. The writing style is refreshing and funny. I am however leaving the world of Vicky behind me. And who knows, maybe I will pick up the next book in a while because sometimes books just need time to marinade.
September 20, 2025
oh my! firstly, I really liked how you are being told vickys story by the authors pov. The quotes at the end/start of each chapter were a nice touch! I found myself laughing, grasping, and getting emotional, following Vicky through her childhood, into adulthood. The emotional and physical abuse she endured was heartbreaking! I found myself wanting, no, NEEDING to know what happened next after each chapter. The ending left on such a cliff hanger! perfectly set up for book two, which i will be reading soon!
July 30, 2026
Book Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Cute Little Hand Grenade by Jadella Gold
Book 1
Let’s get one thing straight before someone wanders in here expecting a quirky romance with sunshine and emotional support puppies.
This book is not for everyone.
If your happy place is Disney princesses, magical woodland creatures, and unicorns pooping biodegradable glitter… this is your cue to quietly back away. No hard feelings. Run. Don’t look back. There isn’t a single ounce of wholesome happiness waiting for you here.
Still here?
Fine. Fair warning:
⚠️ Child abuse
⚠️ Rape and sexual assault
⚠️ Graphic sexual content
⚠️ Domestic abuse
⚠️ Extreme violence
⚠️ Pregnancy loss caused by violence
⚠️ Murder
⚠️ Language that could make your grandmother faint
If you read that list and thought, “Yeah… I’ll give it a go,” welcome, my fellow emotionally questionable reader.
This book is brutal.
My heart absolutely broke for Vicky. More than once. Every time I started feeling sorry for her, she’d make another decision that had me yelling, “Girl… WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” I honestly wanted to hug her, shake her, slap some sense into her, hug her again, and then probably cry in the corner myself.
One thing that might catch readers off guard is the narration. Vicky doesn’t tell her own story. Jadella Gold does. It’s like the author is sitting next to you with a cup of coffee, telling you the most horrifying story you’ve ever heard while casually sprinkling in sarcasm and zero filter.
Sometimes I loved that. Sometimes I wanted her to get out of the way so I could drown completely in Vicky’s head.
Then again… maybe that distance saved my sanity, because absolutely nothing happening to this woman could be described as “a good day.”
I never saw Vicky as a bad person. I saw someone who had abuse, neglect, and violence handed to her long before she ever had the chance to choose differently. Trauma shapes people. Sometimes the wrong choices are made for reasons you completely understand… and that’s what makes this story hurt so much.
How much can one person survive before they finally snap?
Apparently… quite a lot.
Five stars from me. Not because I enjoyed watching Vicky suffer—I’m disturbed, not heartless—but because the writing made me stay beside her through every awful, heartbreaking moment. And if an author can drag me through that emotional war zone and keep me turning pages, they’ve earned every single one of those stars.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Cute Little Hand Grenade by Jadella Gold
Book 1
Let’s get one thing straight before someone wanders in here expecting a quirky romance with sunshine and emotional support puppies.
This book is not for everyone.
If your happy place is Disney princesses, magical woodland creatures, and unicorns pooping biodegradable glitter… this is your cue to quietly back away. No hard feelings. Run. Don’t look back. There isn’t a single ounce of wholesome happiness waiting for you here.
Still here?
Fine. Fair warning:
⚠️ Child abuse
⚠️ Rape and sexual assault
⚠️ Graphic sexual content
⚠️ Domestic abuse
⚠️ Extreme violence
⚠️ Pregnancy loss caused by violence
⚠️ Murder
⚠️ Language that could make your grandmother faint
If you read that list and thought, “Yeah… I’ll give it a go,” welcome, my fellow emotionally questionable reader.
This book is brutal.
My heart absolutely broke for Vicky. More than once. Every time I started feeling sorry for her, she’d make another decision that had me yelling, “Girl… WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” I honestly wanted to hug her, shake her, slap some sense into her, hug her again, and then probably cry in the corner myself.
One thing that might catch readers off guard is the narration. Vicky doesn’t tell her own story. Jadella Gold does. It’s like the author is sitting next to you with a cup of coffee, telling you the most horrifying story you’ve ever heard while casually sprinkling in sarcasm and zero filter.
Sometimes I loved that. Sometimes I wanted her to get out of the way so I could drown completely in Vicky’s head.
Then again… maybe that distance saved my sanity, because absolutely nothing happening to this woman could be described as “a good day.”
I never saw Vicky as a bad person. I saw someone who had abuse, neglect, and violence handed to her long before she ever had the chance to choose differently. Trauma shapes people. Sometimes the wrong choices are made for reasons you completely understand… and that’s what makes this story hurt so much.
How much can one person survive before they finally snap?
Apparently… quite a lot.
Five stars from me. Not because I enjoyed watching Vicky suffer—I’m disturbed, not heartless—but because the writing made me stay beside her through every awful, heartbreaking moment. And if an author can drag me through that emotional war zone and keep me turning pages, they’ve earned every single one of those stars.
May 19, 2026
Cute Little Hand Grenade by Jadella Gold
Very Dark
Disturbingly Twisted
Trauma
The author gives a warning about this book…. ❗️’Warning; This book contains; unnecessary violence, a bundle of inappropriate humour, very questionable language, highly likely to make you laugh when you probably shouldn’t, gasp out loud like a knob, and there’s a good chance it will leave you questioning your life choices.’ ❗️
Vicky Sterling our FMC or our protagonist as our author prefers to call her has lived a life full of trauma. Abandoned, brutalised, raped as well as other traumatic experiences which leads her to some dark times & bad decisions.
The author guides you through the journey checking in to make sure you’re still reading, especially with some of the very hard to read chapters which I thought adds a softness to it cutting through the harsh reality of what Vicky is going through.
Vicky is also a young mother who will do anything (and I mean anything) to protect her son.
This is book 1 of the series and is not for the faint-hearted. Prepare for crass language and a disturbing, dark and twisted read. As always, check your trigger warnings too!
I LOVED it!! And will happily be called a Darkling by Jadella who reached out to me to read her book and I’m so glad she did!
I need a break first and maybe some counselling but I’ll definitely be jumping into book 2!!
This is a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me!!
Very Dark
Disturbingly Twisted
Trauma
The author gives a warning about this book…. ❗️’Warning; This book contains; unnecessary violence, a bundle of inappropriate humour, very questionable language, highly likely to make you laugh when you probably shouldn’t, gasp out loud like a knob, and there’s a good chance it will leave you questioning your life choices.’ ❗️
Vicky Sterling our FMC or our protagonist as our author prefers to call her has lived a life full of trauma. Abandoned, brutalised, raped as well as other traumatic experiences which leads her to some dark times & bad decisions.
The author guides you through the journey checking in to make sure you’re still reading, especially with some of the very hard to read chapters which I thought adds a softness to it cutting through the harsh reality of what Vicky is going through.
Vicky is also a young mother who will do anything (and I mean anything) to protect her son.
This is book 1 of the series and is not for the faint-hearted. Prepare for crass language and a disturbing, dark and twisted read. As always, check your trigger warnings too!
I LOVED it!! And will happily be called a Darkling by Jadella who reached out to me to read her book and I’m so glad she did!
I need a break first and maybe some counselling but I’ll definitely be jumping into book 2!!
This is a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me!!
March 4, 2026
Review time!
CUTE LITTLE HAND GRENADE by Jadella Gold
First off! What a thrilling dark Ride! 😳😱 Secondly This Talented Author just curved me senseless! She just threw that hand grenade into my lap and laughed, walking off!
The plot is deep, raw and cutting! Jagged edges to drive the reader flipping page after page salivating like a dog for more!
Jadella here whips your imagination and keeps the adrenaline flowing like I’ve never seen before.
Oh yeah, the characters are hell, the action and darkness collide and burst into scenarios so vivid DRIPPING in revenge, lies, as a web tangles in deceit!
No SPOILERS! No way! This story so bittersweet, brutal, the reader will breathe deception and HOW TO PLAY THE GAME!
Like in Chess, strategic moves as The main character sweeps along sexy and sinister! You do not want to get too close NOR screw with her mind and heart!
Jadella needs SIX ⭐️ stars so dang brilliant they blind you! Superb, twisted and maliciously evil as the reader delves in and finds out the WHY!
I’m on to her second Book Two bypassing some others because I’m a reader junkie for this author!
Brilliantly written, saturated in wickedness. Carry on Jadella!
Hooked, line, and sinker!!!
CUTE LITTLE HAND GRENADE by Jadella Gold
First off! What a thrilling dark Ride! 😳😱 Secondly This Talented Author just curved me senseless! She just threw that hand grenade into my lap and laughed, walking off!
The plot is deep, raw and cutting! Jagged edges to drive the reader flipping page after page salivating like a dog for more!
Jadella here whips your imagination and keeps the adrenaline flowing like I’ve never seen before.
Oh yeah, the characters are hell, the action and darkness collide and burst into scenarios so vivid DRIPPING in revenge, lies, as a web tangles in deceit!
No SPOILERS! No way! This story so bittersweet, brutal, the reader will breathe deception and HOW TO PLAY THE GAME!
Like in Chess, strategic moves as The main character sweeps along sexy and sinister! You do not want to get too close NOR screw with her mind and heart!
Jadella needs SIX ⭐️ stars so dang brilliant they blind you! Superb, twisted and maliciously evil as the reader delves in and finds out the WHY!
I’m on to her second Book Two bypassing some others because I’m a reader junkie for this author!
Brilliantly written, saturated in wickedness. Carry on Jadella!
Hooked, line, and sinker!!!
July 21, 2026
Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️ . 5 stars!!
Let me explain my rating for you....
I love vicky!!!! let me just say it again i love vicky!!! Fair shout to the women who dug herself out of her shit show of a life & made something of herself! Might of been in an what the world would maybe frown upon but well done girl 👏. I found it funny at times & sometimes like for god sake sort ya shit out! But i cant wait to get stuck in on book 2! Now that i have started this series i NEED to finish it!!
I would say though that the trigger warnings should probably be explained a little first, only because i feel that alot of women have been through what Vicky has and not all take it like our girl vicky did and can maybe be a real struggle for some, so if they go into reading it unpreapred it might put them off the story, however for myself i dont read trigger warnings as i dont want to ruin the story so it was okay for me.
🖤🖤
Let me explain my rating for you....
I love vicky!!!! let me just say it again i love vicky!!! Fair shout to the women who dug herself out of her shit show of a life & made something of herself! Might of been in an what the world would maybe frown upon but well done girl 👏. I found it funny at times & sometimes like for god sake sort ya shit out! But i cant wait to get stuck in on book 2! Now that i have started this series i NEED to finish it!!
I would say though that the trigger warnings should probably be explained a little first, only because i feel that alot of women have been through what Vicky has and not all take it like our girl vicky did and can maybe be a real struggle for some, so if they go into reading it unpreapred it might put them off the story, however for myself i dont read trigger warnings as i dont want to ruin the story so it was okay for me.
🖤🖤
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 3, 2025
Wow! Okay let me just say I was warned before opening this book. 😅 But I went ahead on anyway and MAN did it take me on a ride! It follows a young girl named Vicky whose dealt some of the worst cards in life. I mean just terrible. But you can only take so much for so long before you blow...and unfortunately Vicky...well i dont want to give too much away, see for yourself. Like the book cover states, its definitely "daringly dark" and "wonderfully twisted". The first few chapters my little heart couldn't take. But I think throughout the book I transformed and started to get locked in and couldnt stop. I never knew what was going to happen. The element of shock was always there...😅. But yeah, overall great book! If you want something unhinged this is definitely for you. But just take heed to the warning.
September 13, 2026
Even though this book is alot to handle, Im proud of the author being brave enough to write about it and make more awareness and the effects that these issues raised have on people for their entire life.
The author told me about this book over a year ago on tiktok and so I brought it.
Not going to lie, its taken me a year to get through it, its a very heavy book, as someone who has not gone through a life with these issues being a part of it and I can't imagine how heavy this is for people who have gone through some of these issues. I put the book down multiple times to read something more light hearted.
In saying that I was drawn back to it, its not often (if at all) that i could say i read a book on and off for a year and actually finished it.... not only finished it, but purchased the next one.
So we'll done to the author for that.
The author told me about this book over a year ago on tiktok and so I brought it.
Not going to lie, its taken me a year to get through it, its a very heavy book, as someone who has not gone through a life with these issues being a part of it and I can't imagine how heavy this is for people who have gone through some of these issues. I put the book down multiple times to read something more light hearted.
In saying that I was drawn back to it, its not often (if at all) that i could say i read a book on and off for a year and actually finished it.... not only finished it, but purchased the next one.
So we'll done to the author for that.
May 19, 2026
This book got me out of a reading slump. Very fast-paced and engaging. There were some misspells and grammar mistakes. I was irked a bit with the quotes at the end of each chapter. Overall, I’m going to continue with reading what trouble, wittiness, and events Vicky comes up with next.
March 2, 2026
Very dark, not what I usually read.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews