What do you think?
Rate this book
Guilty Women
Can they get away with murder?
On a beautiful island off the English coast, a group of TV actresses gather. One of them has a secret. One of them will stop at nothing to get revenge on the man who hurt her. And one of them is determined to be the best – no matter what it costs. All of them have something to hide – but the question is – are they all guilty? Join Sunday Times bestselling author Melanie Blake in this sexy, shocking thriller – guaranteed to blow your mind…
The cast of RUTHLESS WOMEN are back – but this time they’re in trouble…
On a beautiful island off the English coast, a group of TV actresses gather. One of them has a secret. One of them will stop at nothing to get revenge on the man who hurt her. And one of them is determined to be the best – no matter what it costs. All of them have something to hide – but the question is – are they all guilty? Join Sunday Times bestselling author Melanie Blake in this sexy, shocking thriller – guaranteed to blow your mind…
The cast of RUTHLESS WOMEN are back – but this time they’re in trouble…
Audio CD
Published August 16, 2022
79 people are currently reading
465 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
April 21, 2022
It's fair to say that long running TV soap opera, sorry, continuous series, has had its fair share of on-screen and
off-screen dramas in the forty years it's been running. Desperate to stay high in the ratings, the Channel Islands based company has resorted to numerous headline grabbing plot lines. In the second in this series the four central female characters have a lot of big secrets to hide, to feel guilty about not least the dramatic event that ends Book One. Too add to the potentially incendiary atmosphere there is toxic revenge most definitely on the agenda.
This novel has the vibe of a 70's blockbuster in the vein of a Jackie Collins or a Harold Robbins rather than a continuous series such as the soon to be departed Neighbours or Coronation Street, though it does have some gritty Eastenders touches! Here there is revenge and more revenge, murder, so much duplicity your head spins, sex, the aforementioned guilt and such ruthlessness it does no favours to Ruth. Have I mentioned the sex??? They're a highly charged bunch. It reminds me hugely of Dynasty especially after the arrival of Joan and there are more than a few characters that make JR from Dallas look like a sweetheart. There are so many plot twists that my poor brain is utterly frazzled. I usually like multiple plot twists to keep you guessing but I equally think you can overdo it and that's the case here. The characters are definitely on the Darth Vader dark side and some would make Machiavelli's Prince look like a pussy cat. As most of the characters are flawed and totally unlikeable I find it hard to invest or care very much about what happens to them! There are also SO many characters to get your head around although it does help to have read Book One. This inevitably means that many are undeveloped and are just a tabloid worthy snapshot.
Overall, it's entertaining in parts, it's over the top but an easy read and would probably be an ideal book to take to the beach.
Thanks to NetGalley and especially to Harper Collins for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
off-screen dramas in the forty years it's been running. Desperate to stay high in the ratings, the Channel Islands based company has resorted to numerous headline grabbing plot lines. In the second in this series the four central female characters have a lot of big secrets to hide, to feel guilty about not least the dramatic event that ends Book One. Too add to the potentially incendiary atmosphere there is toxic revenge most definitely on the agenda.
This novel has the vibe of a 70's blockbuster in the vein of a Jackie Collins or a Harold Robbins rather than a continuous series such as the soon to be departed Neighbours or Coronation Street, though it does have some gritty Eastenders touches! Here there is revenge and more revenge, murder, so much duplicity your head spins, sex, the aforementioned guilt and such ruthlessness it does no favours to Ruth. Have I mentioned the sex??? They're a highly charged bunch. It reminds me hugely of Dynasty especially after the arrival of Joan and there are more than a few characters that make JR from Dallas look like a sweetheart. There are so many plot twists that my poor brain is utterly frazzled. I usually like multiple plot twists to keep you guessing but I equally think you can overdo it and that's the case here. The characters are definitely on the Darth Vader dark side and some would make Machiavelli's Prince look like a pussy cat. As most of the characters are flawed and totally unlikeable I find it hard to invest or care very much about what happens to them! There are also SO many characters to get your head around although it does help to have read Book One. This inevitably means that many are undeveloped and are just a tabloid worthy snapshot.
Overall, it's entertaining in parts, it's over the top but an easy read and would probably be an ideal book to take to the beach.
Thanks to NetGalley and especially to Harper Collins for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
May 8, 2022
A soap opera with a bunch of actresses with a few shattering secrets...
Guilty Women meets Days of our Lives. They will stop at nothing to keep the ratings up and covering any dirty little secrets. But can they continue to get away with it until the end?
I have not read Book 1 but got into this story really fast and absolutely painless.
A really good story base that keeps you wondering when it will all shatter their famous lives. Kept the pace and kept you on the edge until the end. Very solid character building with enough insight to follow each ones roles.
The narration was really superb,
Thank you once again Netgalley and HarperCollins UK Audio for this audiobook ARC.
Guilty Women meets Days of our Lives. They will stop at nothing to keep the ratings up and covering any dirty little secrets. But can they continue to get away with it until the end?
I have not read Book 1 but got into this story really fast and absolutely painless.
A really good story base that keeps you wondering when it will all shatter their famous lives. Kept the pace and kept you on the edge until the end. Very solid character building with enough insight to follow each ones roles.
The narration was really superb,
Thank you once again Netgalley and HarperCollins UK Audio for this audiobook ARC.
July 12, 2022
⭐️3.5 Stars⭐️
If you love TV soap operas and drama you’ll no doubt enjoy this entertaining read. Guilty Women by Melanie Blake certainly has a Dynasty 70- 80’s vibe about it. It’s steamy, glamorous with flawed, totally unlikeable characters and murder.
Falcon Bay is a household name and a long running TV soapie where only last year an actress was tragically killed during a rare live broadcast. Four TV actresses are hiding a secret that will be their demise if it gets out.
There’s a twisty plot, tons of bitchiness, backstabbing, deceit and betrayal. The island setting is absolutely magical and the writer easily allows you to imagine living the lifestyle of these people.
This is the sequel to 2021’s Sunday Times bestseller Ruthhless Women but can easily be read as a standalone although there are many characters to keep up with. Loved the sisterhood and that the protagonists were older women that could still be hot!
Publication Date 18 May 2022
Publisher Harper Collins Publishers Australia
Thank you so much Harper Collins for a copy of the book
If you love TV soap operas and drama you’ll no doubt enjoy this entertaining read. Guilty Women by Melanie Blake certainly has a Dynasty 70- 80’s vibe about it. It’s steamy, glamorous with flawed, totally unlikeable characters and murder.
Falcon Bay is a household name and a long running TV soapie where only last year an actress was tragically killed during a rare live broadcast. Four TV actresses are hiding a secret that will be their demise if it gets out.
There’s a twisty plot, tons of bitchiness, backstabbing, deceit and betrayal. The island setting is absolutely magical and the writer easily allows you to imagine living the lifestyle of these people.
This is the sequel to 2021’s Sunday Times bestseller Ruthhless Women but can easily be read as a standalone although there are many characters to keep up with. Loved the sisterhood and that the protagonists were older women that could still be hot!
Publication Date 18 May 2022
Publisher Harper Collins Publishers Australia
Thank you so much Harper Collins for a copy of the book
April 27, 2022
Falcon Bay is a tv show which has been running for decades. Set on a beautiful island just off the Jersey coast, the soap has seen it’s fair share of drama, particularly last year when Madeleine Kane, the former owner of the CITV network and actor on the show, was tragically killed on screen during the live Christmas Day episode. The cast and crew are still reeling from this, particularly four of them; Amanda, Helen, Farragut and Sheena, as they know exactly what happened that night and will do everything in their power to ensure word never gets out.
Hurray, back to the glossy world of Falcon Bay, where bitchiness and backstabbing is rife. Guilty Women is no 2 in a trilogy of books set here. I have read (and loved) book no 1 - Ruthless Women, but I must stress that this could easily be read as a stand-alone, there’s lots of background explanations to fill in what’s happened previously. I was pleased I’d read book 1 however, as it was a very welcome return to some wonderful females. With shades of Jackie Collins (oh how I loved her books) this is a book of empowerment, strength and sass. These women take no shit. I loved them all and the plot was so evocative of Dynasty or Dallas that it made me smile with delight. Actually with the demise of Neighbours happening imminently, it also made me wonder if the cast and crew there could have secrets like Falcon Bay? What an eye opener this book was!
Great fun to read, a fabulous plot and an absolutely explosive final few chapters made this a glorious blockbuster of a story. It has murder, revenge, deceit, betrayal and loyalty bursting from the pages. What could be better!
Hurray, back to the glossy world of Falcon Bay, where bitchiness and backstabbing is rife. Guilty Women is no 2 in a trilogy of books set here. I have read (and loved) book no 1 - Ruthless Women, but I must stress that this could easily be read as a stand-alone, there’s lots of background explanations to fill in what’s happened previously. I was pleased I’d read book 1 however, as it was a very welcome return to some wonderful females. With shades of Jackie Collins (oh how I loved her books) this is a book of empowerment, strength and sass. These women take no shit. I loved them all and the plot was so evocative of Dynasty or Dallas that it made me smile with delight. Actually with the demise of Neighbours happening imminently, it also made me wonder if the cast and crew there could have secrets like Falcon Bay? What an eye opener this book was!
Great fun to read, a fabulous plot and an absolutely explosive final few chapters made this a glorious blockbuster of a story. It has murder, revenge, deceit, betrayal and loyalty bursting from the pages. What could be better!
April 28, 2022
I haven’t read the previous book so I did not know what to expect. I found the cover very interesting and the description seal my wish to try it.
I’m all about the drama behind the scenes in a glamorous setting, and this book delivers in spades.
I can’t say I liked or got closed to any of the characters as there are way too many for my liking and maybe it felt harder to keep up with everyone in the end. It really reads as a big tv drama soap opera, maybe the older versions like Dynasty or even Dallas.
And one thing that really stood out for me and was quite impressed, was the smut! Like full open door scenes, where my kindle catches fire. I’m all about it and I was just surprised to find it so blatantly put on the page on a traditional published book, which we rarely see nowadays, more so in a crime story.
It's an interesting story with intriguing characters, one too many for me, but a book that maybe it's worth reading just because it's more outside of the norm.
Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy
3.5 stars
I’m all about the drama behind the scenes in a glamorous setting, and this book delivers in spades.
I can’t say I liked or got closed to any of the characters as there are way too many for my liking and maybe it felt harder to keep up with everyone in the end. It really reads as a big tv drama soap opera, maybe the older versions like Dynasty or even Dallas.
And one thing that really stood out for me and was quite impressed, was the smut! Like full open door scenes, where my kindle catches fire. I’m all about it and I was just surprised to find it so blatantly put on the page on a traditional published book, which we rarely see nowadays, more so in a crime story.
It's an interesting story with intriguing characters, one too many for me, but a book that maybe it's worth reading just because it's more outside of the norm.
Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy
3.5 stars
March 27, 2022
Omg omg omg!
Wowwee! Wowser!
Utterly speechless... but please tell me there will be another book as I want and need more.
Melanie Blake is just amazing and this latest book, which starts a short time after the end of Ruthless Women seems to have stepped it up another notch.
I literally couldn't get enough of this story and was hooked on every last word.
There are so many twists and turns and for a brief moment I thought there would be very different ending, but instead just wow.
Revenge, guilt, powerful strong women, power plays, schemes, sex and a whole lot more has turned this book from a story about a soap, to a set of storyline that would certainly work well on a big or smaller screen.
This is a book and series that needs to be adapted to other forms of entertainment as it is that amazing.
Melanie Blake is now easily one of my favourite, must read everything she writes authors, and has yet again produced on simply spectacular book.
Thank you to HarperCollins and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Wowwee! Wowser!
Utterly speechless... but please tell me there will be another book as I want and need more.
Melanie Blake is just amazing and this latest book, which starts a short time after the end of Ruthless Women seems to have stepped it up another notch.
I literally couldn't get enough of this story and was hooked on every last word.
There are so many twists and turns and for a brief moment I thought there would be very different ending, but instead just wow.
Revenge, guilt, powerful strong women, power plays, schemes, sex and a whole lot more has turned this book from a story about a soap, to a set of storyline that would certainly work well on a big or smaller screen.
This is a book and series that needs to be adapted to other forms of entertainment as it is that amazing.
Melanie Blake is now easily one of my favourite, must read everything she writes authors, and has yet again produced on simply spectacular book.
Thank you to HarperCollins and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
April 26, 2023
I spent 13 hours listening to Claire King put her life and soul into narrating this book, for it to end….like that!!!!!!! I know I know, it’s not Hollywood, but still! Aahh!!
As soon as I heard there was a sequel to Ruthless Women, one of my fav books last year, I was excited! I couldn’t wait to get back to the women on Falcon Bay, ok so I waited a year! I loved being back with them and experiencing the fallout from Book 1 and I was eager to see how life would pan out for them.
This is not what I was expecting!
It’s difficult to say too much without spoiling it, but what I will say is 1, I hope there is another book and 2, it definitely feels like the bad guys won the day. Although it’s actually ludicrous to say, because the bad guys are actually the good guys, it’s just we don’t like them!
The ending, you knew would be explosive and shocking, and it is completely that!!
I am actually going to miss Falcon Bay, and actually feel this book itself would make great TV!! It is scandalous, soap opera-y and raunchy and sometimes cringy, but it was still enjoyable. I think the fact I felt quite grumpy, as I finished the book, made me more annoyed about the end. (Blame the Maggie Migraine!) Luckily, there was no shark in the animal sense this time!
I finally found out what happened to Honey as I was so worried about her, but the storyline didn’t add much to the overall story, so unless we have something bigger to come, it seemed to be a bit of a filler….a bit like a TV series…… I just feel like I want more!
I would still most definitely read books by Melanie, I just feel a bit disheartened. But then it just reiterates life is not always flowers and sunshine and we don’t always get what we want, so in that respect, this book is just awesome for that!
As soon as I heard there was a sequel to Ruthless Women, one of my fav books last year, I was excited! I couldn’t wait to get back to the women on Falcon Bay, ok so I waited a year! I loved being back with them and experiencing the fallout from Book 1 and I was eager to see how life would pan out for them.
This is not what I was expecting!
It’s difficult to say too much without spoiling it, but what I will say is 1, I hope there is another book and 2, it definitely feels like the bad guys won the day. Although it’s actually ludicrous to say, because the bad guys are actually the good guys, it’s just we don’t like them!
The ending, you knew would be explosive and shocking, and it is completely that!!
I am actually going to miss Falcon Bay, and actually feel this book itself would make great TV!! It is scandalous, soap opera-y and raunchy and sometimes cringy, but it was still enjoyable. I think the fact I felt quite grumpy, as I finished the book, made me more annoyed about the end. (Blame the Maggie Migraine!) Luckily, there was no shark in the animal sense this time!
I finally found out what happened to Honey as I was so worried about her, but the storyline didn’t add much to the overall story, so unless we have something bigger to come, it seemed to be a bit of a filler….a bit like a TV series…… I just feel like I want more!
I would still most definitely read books by Melanie, I just feel a bit disheartened. But then it just reiterates life is not always flowers and sunshine and we don’t always get what we want, so in that respect, this book is just awesome for that!
May 28, 2022
Thank you Harper Collins for sending us a copy to read and review.
Guilty Women is the steamy addictive sequel to last year’s hit Ruthless Women.
Falcon Bay is the world’s most popular soap.
For everyone working on the show, last year’s tragic incident is still haunting the cast and crew.
But for five friends they thought they got away with it all.
With one about to crack and reveal the truth and the rest all with something to hide, the famous five are in a lot of trouble this time.
Can they get away with murder the second time around……
In the sexy tradition of the 70’s and 80’s bonkbuster Guilty Women is fun, sassy, entertaining and juicy.
A glamorous look behind the scenes of a longing running tv drama and a tabloid look into the lives of a bunch of characters associated with it.
A contemporary fiction title that takes a very candid look into the world of cutthroat soap operas and the drama and sex lives of the strong, beautiful women behind the camera.
Bringing inspiration from her real life experience in the entertainment industry, Melanie writes a plot that feels authentic, realistic and deliciously gossipy.
For those of you who have read the first book, which I do recommend to get the full understanding, the book continues wth the shocks, surprises and the reveals.
Secrets, lies, revenge, deception, backstabbing, scheming, greed, ambition and lust are just some of the themes running through this enticing plot.
I’m looking forward to what Melanie brings us next.
A seductive and ruthless read.
Guilty Women is the steamy addictive sequel to last year’s hit Ruthless Women.
Falcon Bay is the world’s most popular soap.
For everyone working on the show, last year’s tragic incident is still haunting the cast and crew.
But for five friends they thought they got away with it all.
With one about to crack and reveal the truth and the rest all with something to hide, the famous five are in a lot of trouble this time.
Can they get away with murder the second time around……
In the sexy tradition of the 70’s and 80’s bonkbuster Guilty Women is fun, sassy, entertaining and juicy.
A glamorous look behind the scenes of a longing running tv drama and a tabloid look into the lives of a bunch of characters associated with it.
A contemporary fiction title that takes a very candid look into the world of cutthroat soap operas and the drama and sex lives of the strong, beautiful women behind the camera.
Bringing inspiration from her real life experience in the entertainment industry, Melanie writes a plot that feels authentic, realistic and deliciously gossipy.
For those of you who have read the first book, which I do recommend to get the full understanding, the book continues wth the shocks, surprises and the reveals.
Secrets, lies, revenge, deception, backstabbing, scheming, greed, ambition and lust are just some of the themes running through this enticing plot.
I’m looking forward to what Melanie brings us next.
A seductive and ruthless read.
June 20, 2022
When I started to listen to Guilty Women I was not aware that it is a sequel. Maybe this is why a was a little bit confused at the beginning. But once I got into the story it gathered speed!
The cast of the TV show will do anything to keep in the headlines! This was a very pleasant and quick listening for me
Thanks #Netgalley and #HarperCollins UK Audio for this audiobook
The cast of the TV show will do anything to keep in the headlines! This was a very pleasant and quick listening for me
Thanks #Netgalley and #HarperCollins UK Audio for this audiobook
April 26, 2022
Guilty Women follows on from the explosive finale of Ruthless Women, where one of my favourite characters was killed live on air in the now infamous Christmas episode. This can be read as a standalone though, as like any good soap opera the author uses catch up details to fill you in on the important nitty gritty.
With emotions running high and the women knowing exactly what happened will they stick together to hide their secrets or stab each other in the back?
Omg I flew through Ruthless Women and then went straight on to this one as I just had to know the outcome of the previous events. This author certainly knows how to deliver dramatic suspense and I was not disappointed with it’s sequel.
All of the cast and crew are back except for the tragic fifth woman and I think even Satan himself would be proud of this lot of miscreants. I am purposefully not naming the victim in this review for those that want to read the first book. It really is worth it to get the whole dirty and glorious picture.
I feel quite naughty myself for relishing so much joy in their unpleasant behaviours. But like in pantomime it’s always fun to boo and hiss at the baddies and there are plenty of them here. It’s quite a grey area as even the characters I liked sometimes did things I didn’t approve of to get what they wanted. Where do you draw the line? Women always seem to have to fight for what men get so easily, that glass ceiling always feeling just out of reach. Women can find strength in each other but are some of these women learning a few tricks from the men? Never knowing the outcome and how low their depths will go made this a frantic and fast paced read.
Another spectacularly fun book that feels like each chapter is an episode and you just know there’s going to be an end of season cliffhanger.
Melanie Blake is now firmly on my go to author list for over the top escapist pleasure, that I don’t even feel one bit guilty about.
With emotions running high and the women knowing exactly what happened will they stick together to hide their secrets or stab each other in the back?
Omg I flew through Ruthless Women and then went straight on to this one as I just had to know the outcome of the previous events. This author certainly knows how to deliver dramatic suspense and I was not disappointed with it’s sequel.
All of the cast and crew are back except for the tragic fifth woman and I think even Satan himself would be proud of this lot of miscreants. I am purposefully not naming the victim in this review for those that want to read the first book. It really is worth it to get the whole dirty and glorious picture.
I feel quite naughty myself for relishing so much joy in their unpleasant behaviours. But like in pantomime it’s always fun to boo and hiss at the baddies and there are plenty of them here. It’s quite a grey area as even the characters I liked sometimes did things I didn’t approve of to get what they wanted. Where do you draw the line? Women always seem to have to fight for what men get so easily, that glass ceiling always feeling just out of reach. Women can find strength in each other but are some of these women learning a few tricks from the men? Never knowing the outcome and how low their depths will go made this a frantic and fast paced read.
Another spectacularly fun book that feels like each chapter is an episode and you just know there’s going to be an end of season cliffhanger.
Melanie Blake is now firmly on my go to author list for over the top escapist pleasure, that I don’t even feel one bit guilty about.
May 12, 2022
Set on the island of St. Augustine, one of the jewels of the Channel Islands, Guilty Women follows on from Ruthless Women and is the home to the location of the long-running hit TV drama, Falcon Bay. If you haven't read Ruthless Women, worry not as Guilty Women is a complete read in itself. In this steamy tale of revenge, jealousy and hatred the female characters are ruthless, empowering and vibrant. Full of surprises, wickedness and suspenseful mystery, it sports a humdinger of a finale.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from HarperCollins via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from HarperCollins via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
June 17, 2024
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
I didn’t particularly like this book. I had no idea that this followed on from another book that details the salacious scandals surrounding a soap opera called Falcon Bay. It really helps if you have read the first book because this one carries on immediately, leaving me floundering about characters, background and the juicy crime that was committed… I just didn’t have much knowledge about it.
I didn’t particularly like this book. I had no idea that this followed on from another book that details the salacious scandals surrounding a soap opera called Falcon Bay. It really helps if you have read the first book because this one carries on immediately, leaving me floundering about characters, background and the juicy crime that was committed… I just didn’t have much knowledge about it.
March 21, 2024
I simply loved, loved, loved, loved it. GUILTY WOMEN starts out six months later after the shocking climax of the first book and goes on from there. There are still many, many surprises in store. Suffice to say, GUILTY WOMEN is definitely a grabber. I cannot wait for this year’s follow-up. My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
May 12, 2022
We’re back in Falcon Bay for more blood, blackmail, backstabbing, botox and bonking. Two months on from the now infamous live Christmas Day episode that ended in tragedy, St Augustine’s Cove is just beginning to get back its serenity after the media circus that followed Madeline Kane’s death. But one of the group is so filled with guilt over her part in the TV-executive’s death that she’s threatening to crack. The others rally round to try and stop her from hitting self-destruct, but can they survive the scrutiny of a cut-throat reporter, an ex with an unquenchable thirst for revenge and the glare of the world’s media and get away with murder?
Sassy, sharp, saucy and spectacular, this is another winner from Melanie Blake, who has shown herself to be the new queen of the killer bonkbuster. While this isn’t my usual kind of read, these delightfully over-the-top tomes of pure escapism have become auto-reads for me. I love the feeling of nostalgia that comes from these books, like a throwback to the eighties heyday of Dynasty and Jackie Collins but with a modern-day twist, and how we are given a peek behind the curtain to see the darker truths that lurk behind the glitz and glamour of showbiz. They are a guilty pleasure that I devour hungrily, feeling bereft when I’m finished.
Another allure for me is how the author has chosen to shine a spotlight on the mature woman. Women of middle age and above have long been silenced and invisible, especially in the media, and I love seeing them given a voice at last. The women in these books, whether heroine or villain, are powerhouses; beautiful, fierce, ambitious and utterly compelling. They are the shining stars who propel both the plot and fictional show forward and write their own stories in a business dominated by men. Themes of sisterhood and female empowerment running through every page, particularly within the bond that our quintet of narrators share. But they are also flawed and complex, making terrible decisions that I couldn’t condone yet the author still had me rooting for them every step of the way. And then there’s the sex. This is a spicy novel that not only embraces the sexuality of these women but celebrates it, reminding us that it isn’t just young women who are hot, vivacious sexual beings. It is refreshing to see such representation of older women, particularly as a woman of that age myself.
An outrageous, lusty romp filled with adrenaline, Guilty Women is a hilarious and gripping read that had me completely hooked. Highly recommended for some sizzling summer reading.
Sassy, sharp, saucy and spectacular, this is another winner from Melanie Blake, who has shown herself to be the new queen of the killer bonkbuster. While this isn’t my usual kind of read, these delightfully over-the-top tomes of pure escapism have become auto-reads for me. I love the feeling of nostalgia that comes from these books, like a throwback to the eighties heyday of Dynasty and Jackie Collins but with a modern-day twist, and how we are given a peek behind the curtain to see the darker truths that lurk behind the glitz and glamour of showbiz. They are a guilty pleasure that I devour hungrily, feeling bereft when I’m finished.
Another allure for me is how the author has chosen to shine a spotlight on the mature woman. Women of middle age and above have long been silenced and invisible, especially in the media, and I love seeing them given a voice at last. The women in these books, whether heroine or villain, are powerhouses; beautiful, fierce, ambitious and utterly compelling. They are the shining stars who propel both the plot and fictional show forward and write their own stories in a business dominated by men. Themes of sisterhood and female empowerment running through every page, particularly within the bond that our quintet of narrators share. But they are also flawed and complex, making terrible decisions that I couldn’t condone yet the author still had me rooting for them every step of the way. And then there’s the sex. This is a spicy novel that not only embraces the sexuality of these women but celebrates it, reminding us that it isn’t just young women who are hot, vivacious sexual beings. It is refreshing to see such representation of older women, particularly as a woman of that age myself.
An outrageous, lusty romp filled with adrenaline, Guilty Women is a hilarious and gripping read that had me completely hooked. Highly recommended for some sizzling summer reading.
February 18, 2023
Firstly, I NEED there to be another instalment of this series because it CANNOT end like that!!!! 😱
I read the prequel of this book, Ruthless Women, around this time last year. I really enjoyed it and it was so different to any of the books I’ve read before, so when I saw that there was a sequel it went straight onto my Christmas list!
In Guilty Women, we are back in the world of Falcon Bay, a long running TV soap where there is more drama off screen than there is on screen! The book picks up more or less where the first one finished, with Amanda, Farrah, Helen, Catherine and Sheena trying to move on with their lives following the tragedy that was the Christmas Day live episode. I won’t say too much as I don’t want to spoil either of the books for anyone as they are full of twists and turns and shocking moments. Just know that you will be shocked, infuriated, empowered, and so much more, all at the same time. I love all five of the women for different reasons, but together they really are a force to be reckoned with.
It is sooooo juicy and absolutely full to the brim of drama. There is simply not a dull moment in this book as it careers from one twist to the next, one outrage to another. Given Melanie Blake’s links to the real life TV world, it really does make you wonder what goes on behind the scenes that we don’t know about!!
I just really hope there is going to be another book because there’s so many unanswered questions and so many people who haven’t got the justice that they deserve!!!
I read the prequel of this book, Ruthless Women, around this time last year. I really enjoyed it and it was so different to any of the books I’ve read before, so when I saw that there was a sequel it went straight onto my Christmas list!
In Guilty Women, we are back in the world of Falcon Bay, a long running TV soap where there is more drama off screen than there is on screen! The book picks up more or less where the first one finished, with Amanda, Farrah, Helen, Catherine and Sheena trying to move on with their lives following the tragedy that was the Christmas Day live episode. I won’t say too much as I don’t want to spoil either of the books for anyone as they are full of twists and turns and shocking moments. Just know that you will be shocked, infuriated, empowered, and so much more, all at the same time. I love all five of the women for different reasons, but together they really are a force to be reckoned with.
It is sooooo juicy and absolutely full to the brim of drama. There is simply not a dull moment in this book as it careers from one twist to the next, one outrage to another. Given Melanie Blake’s links to the real life TV world, it really does make you wonder what goes on behind the scenes that we don’t know about!!
I just really hope there is going to be another book because there’s so many unanswered questions and so many people who haven’t got the justice that they deserve!!!
July 6, 2022
DNF @ chapter 11
This book is atrocious and disgusting. Everyone is unlikeable, which perhaps is the point, but the overly descriptive sex scenes were too much. After the second raunchy description of female genitalia I should have quit. Unfortunately I didn’t and had to hear a descriptive gang rape of a hospital patient. Calling this trash is an insult to garbage.
Thanks (?) netgalley for my ARC
This book is atrocious and disgusting. Everyone is unlikeable, which perhaps is the point, but the overly descriptive sex scenes were too much. After the second raunchy description of female genitalia I should have quit. Unfortunately I didn’t and had to hear a descriptive gang rape of a hospital patient. Calling this trash is an insult to garbage.
Thanks (?) netgalley for my ARC
May 14, 2022
I NEVER write reviews but I feel if this saves one person from reading this book then I owe it to them! This book is horribly written, repetitive and outdated. The characters are shallow, impossible to relate to and just awful. I’m one of the worlds “I’ve started it to I’ll finish it” readers and this is one of the only books that has ever made me regret that disposition. The “erotica” aspect of this book is cringeworthy with a lot of “seed” being emptied, just gross. It was disjointed at the best of times, seemingly a couple of stories badly intertwined, neither of which were particularly interesting or believable. The “twist” at the end was totally predictable. I wish I had not wasted hours of my life reading this book. You have been warned!
September 14, 2022
This wasn't a mystery really.
It was entertaining and reminded of a cross of the TV show 'Unreal' and what I imagine a Real Housewives season is like.
I did watch Unreal but I've never watched any of the Real Housewives shows.
None the less it went on too long and I just wasn't a fan.
It was entertaining and reminded of a cross of the TV show 'Unreal' and what I imagine a Real Housewives season is like.
I did watch Unreal but I've never watched any of the Real Housewives shows.
None the less it went on too long and I just wasn't a fan.
May 9, 2022
Mini-review for Melanie Blake’s new book, Guilty Women. 3-stars! I rated the previous book, Ruthless Women 5-stars and loved it, so I had high expectations going in.
Ruthless Women was unlike anything I’ve read before and just got better and better as time went on. This one just didn’t hit that same spot but was still a good read.
The difficulty with having so many characters and their perspectives means that it becomes very repetitive and it was a minor complaint with the previous but still here I found things getting lost and whilst the character development is great and interesting, there’s just too many people to keep up with and I got bored reading the same thing over and over again even if slightly altered. The repetition does continue throughout all of the book on a variety of topics, not just the intro where expected - for a 400+ page book this knocked off a star for me.
Very entertaining as I love the drama 😈 and has lots of revenge with fiesty twists. There’s a lot of mention of sharks which is a big no-no for me though 😂 I did find some of the steamy scenes a bit awkward/cringey.
I personally much preferred Ruthless women, and I’m not entirely sold by the ending of Guilty Women - I don’t want to give any spoilers but I loved the build-up and then it just fell short. I’m definitely going to read the next if Blake comes out with one - I’m not done with the drama yet!
Gifted in exchange for an honest review.
Ruthless Women was unlike anything I’ve read before and just got better and better as time went on. This one just didn’t hit that same spot but was still a good read.
The difficulty with having so many characters and their perspectives means that it becomes very repetitive and it was a minor complaint with the previous but still here I found things getting lost and whilst the character development is great and interesting, there’s just too many people to keep up with and I got bored reading the same thing over and over again even if slightly altered. The repetition does continue throughout all of the book on a variety of topics, not just the intro where expected - for a 400+ page book this knocked off a star for me.
Very entertaining as I love the drama 😈 and has lots of revenge with fiesty twists. There’s a lot of mention of sharks which is a big no-no for me though 😂 I did find some of the steamy scenes a bit awkward/cringey.
I personally much preferred Ruthless women, and I’m not entirely sold by the ending of Guilty Women - I don’t want to give any spoilers but I loved the build-up and then it just fell short. I’m definitely going to read the next if Blake comes out with one - I’m not done with the drama yet!
Gifted in exchange for an honest review.
May 19, 2024
If you’re a fan of soap operas, scandal, and drama, then this one is for you. This is book two (I’ve not read book one).
Blake takes us behind the scenes of the ruthless yet glamorous entertainment industry, following the lives of four women. There’s toxic revenge, murder, way too much sex for me (eek) - it’s a very lively and dramatic novel!
There’s plenty of twists but the drama was just a bit much for me. The characters were bold… nah they were bonkers mean. I struggled to invest in them. But I do feel that reading book one may have helped wrap my head around all the characters.
It’s a fairly decent read for those who enjoy a mix of twisty intrigue, glamour, and dramatic shenanigans and is popcorn escapism. If you’re a fan of celebrity scandals, look no further, but I’d recommend you start with book one first, for that added character understanding.
Blake takes us behind the scenes of the ruthless yet glamorous entertainment industry, following the lives of four women. There’s toxic revenge, murder, way too much sex for me (eek) - it’s a very lively and dramatic novel!
There’s plenty of twists but the drama was just a bit much for me. The characters were bold… nah they were bonkers mean. I struggled to invest in them. But I do feel that reading book one may have helped wrap my head around all the characters.
It’s a fairly decent read for those who enjoy a mix of twisty intrigue, glamour, and dramatic shenanigans and is popcorn escapism. If you’re a fan of celebrity scandals, look no further, but I’d recommend you start with book one first, for that added character understanding.
June 29, 2022
I don't normally read books like this, but I actually really enjoyed it, once I got further into it. The story is about a group of women and men who work on a soap opera tv set, and there is a lot of drama, suspense, sex, romance, a few deaths, gossip, family drama, betrayal, friendships and even the birth of a baby. It is full of a lot of characters and different stories, which at first felt a bit overwhelming for me, but as time went on, I started to really like it. The ending was a bit shocking, and it surprised me, but I can see why it was like that.
The narrator of the book was very good, and her voice suited the book perfectly.
The book reminded me of the program Dynasty, so if you like shows like that, you will like this book.
Many thanks to the author, narrator, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.
The narrator of the book was very good, and her voice suited the book perfectly.
The book reminded me of the program Dynasty, so if you like shows like that, you will like this book.
Many thanks to the author, narrator, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.
May 14, 2022
The women are determined that the show must go on – no matter what it costs, however, there is one problem they don't know what the true cost will be. This is my first Melanie Blake book but I shall definitely read more. Opening with the death of Madeline Kane this book is instantly full of intrigue and lies, what are they hiding about that fateful night. As the story unfolds, we discover more about the character's flaws and what they want to conceal from the world, can you ever really run from your secrets. A must read if you love Soap Operas and Dramas.
This would have been a 5 star but I feel like the Honey Hunter storyline could have been fleshed out I'm hoping there will be more about her in a sequel.
#GuiltyWomen #Netgalley
This would have been a 5 star but I feel like the Honey Hunter storyline could have been fleshed out I'm hoping there will be more about her in a sequel.
#GuiltyWomen #Netgalley
June 4, 2022
I choose this book primarily due to the cover and the title and I thought this would be a good listen. It reminded me of Jackie Collins, she is also referenced due to the book. I got so confused about the number of characters - perhaps because I hadn't read the first book. One note if you are listening to the audio version, which I was, use earphones or be alone - my teenagers accidentally walked in on me during one intense part.
The narration was brilliant and really added to it.
This book was a nice escape from reality and I enjoyed it although not my usual genre.
I was given a free copy by the publishers and netgalley but the review is entirely my own.
The narration was brilliant and really added to it.
This book was a nice escape from reality and I enjoyed it although not my usual genre.
I was given a free copy by the publishers and netgalley but the review is entirely my own.
June 28, 2022
Falcon Bay, a soap opera series filled with women with their own secrets.
📺
Four women who share a secret. They know what happened when the former owner of the network, Madeline Kane dies onscreen!
📺
What secrets will keep hidden? Can secrets really be kept? Revenge, sex, jealousy, and women scheming create a juicy plot. A mind blowing ending.
📺
Thank you @dreamscapedia, @netgalley and author @melanieblake for this advanced audio due out July 19, 2022
#deeamacapemwdia, #netgalley, #melanieblake, #audiobook, #bookreview, #bookstagram, #booksconnectus, #stamperlady50
📺
Four women who share a secret. They know what happened when the former owner of the network, Madeline Kane dies onscreen!
📺
What secrets will keep hidden? Can secrets really be kept? Revenge, sex, jealousy, and women scheming create a juicy plot. A mind blowing ending.
📺
Thank you @dreamscapedia, @netgalley and author @melanieblake for this advanced audio due out July 19, 2022
#deeamacapemwdia, #netgalley, #melanieblake, #audiobook, #bookreview, #bookstagram, #booksconnectus, #stamperlady50
May 9, 2022
This is only the 2cd time I’ve left a written review, I’ve not read Melanie Blake before as I usually read crime and thrillers along with the odd bonkbuster but I thought as Melanie is a former agent to the stars it might be a fun book, and it was once I suspended all reality at the very outlandish plots, it had 4 feisty strong female characters who’ve reached the ceiling in their fields and a despicable character in the vile Jake Monroe who’s doing all he can in his misogynistic head to derail these women including using and abusing other women to reach his goal and so I read to almost the end before I realised the supposedly true victim was Madeleine Kane who I now realise is a character in a previous Blake novel and who it turns out was transgender and killed in the previous book by Catherine and covered up by her friends, and so at the end these 4 feisty women bullied by the misogynistic Jake suddenly at the very end became the vile transphobic killers vilified at every turn while the vile misogynistic Jake gets to snatch his two kids out their mothers arms and become a hero. I don’t read this kind of fiction to have ideology rammed down my throat especially as these 4 women were the heroine’s throughout the entire book until almost the end only to suddenly become transphobic monsters and as a huge fan and defender of jk Rowling Katherine Stock etc it really stuck in my craw that not only did Catherine and Co become the villains but Jake got away with his misogynistic horrific behaviour towards women. I won’t be reading another Melanie Blake novel
May 16, 2022
An enjoyable and glamorous story about a fictional soap opera, set in a television studio in Jersey. The plot centres around a group of successful and extremely glamorous female friends who have some dark secrets they are trying to keep from the rest of the world.
If you’re looking for escapism and easy reading, then this may be the book for you.
If you’re looking for escapism and easy reading, then this may be the book for you.
July 29, 2022
Jumped into the audiobook version of the book thanks to Netgalley. I didn't realize until now that it was part of a trilogy. The author did a wonderful job tying in the previous story, I don't feel I missed out on anything. I will definitely be adding the author to my watch list. The story has murder, vengeance, deception, allegiance and devotion among friends exploding with every word.
July 11, 2022
This book was not for me. I didn't realize it was the second in a series (as it's not indicated anywhere) but it would explain why I felt like I was starting the book in the middle of the story. The characters are incredibly unlikeable and the premise, while it originally interested me, was so overly descriptive and not in a good way. Others may like the soap opera setting but this goes way beyond what happens in soaps.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
March 15, 2022
Not my cup of tea really. Was well written but not a book I would go for generally.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC
May 1, 2022
La gente che non sa niente di psicofarmaci non dovrebbe scriverne.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews