Celeste has a past that would haunt anyone. I was drawn into the story right away and hooked until the end. Not being able to shake the feeling that you're being watched is always a creepy feeling. When a boy from her past comes back, it leaves you guessing. Written during the #metoo movement, I thought it was overall well done and look forward to her next book.

Thank you #netgalley for the advanced copy of #NoSmokeWithoutFire

No Smoke Without Fire By Claire S.Lewis

Celeste is a single, twenty four year old part-time student working as a florist and living in a sharing accommodation with her two friends.

Though she appears to be a normal girl-next-door she suffers from PTSD as the result of a severe trauma and abuse from her tragic past.

The story begins with Celeste celebrating Valentines day with her friends but it turns out to be an unlucky start for her as it leads to the return of her abusive ex-boyfriend and also triggers someone to obsessively stalking her.

Despite feeling threatened Celeste decides to face her demons this time round and carries on with her regular activities and even begins a new project delivering flowers to graveyards for relatives in abstentia.

But now isn’t the best time to be visiting graveyards all alone..

The narrative shifts between the past and the present giving us glimpses into Celeste’s life and building suspense brilliantly with many twists and turns.

Loved the narrative with the weaving of past and present together and I enjoyed the many facets of the plot.
And how the protagonist grows as a character.

The surprise ending makes this slow-burn thriller even better.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
No Smoke Without Fire will be out on May 7, 2020.

No Smoke Without Fire is my first book by this author. I was highly looking forward to reading.
Although I couldn’t connect with the main character and it did take me a few chapters to get into the book, I did enjoy the read and the plot is great. A very enjoyable read and I would highly recommend.

This was an ok read to pass the time, not great but readable. I didn’t particularly like any of the characters; I wasn’t a fan of the style of writing and the ending was pretty unbelievable, it wasn’t terrible though.

A simple plot with captivating characters and a sense of underlying mystery and suspicion that kept the story going from start to end.

There’s a point at the end of the novel where I would have liked more details of what really went on with Celeste’s stalker and to dive deeper into what’s going on, but it unfortunately was glossed over with neat ties to close up the “loose ends”. This ultimately lead me to giving the novel a 4 star rating.

All in all, an enjoyable and interesting story!

Thanks to Netgalley for this review copy. This was my first book by this author and she BROUGHT it. What a freaking thrilling ride. The writing is on point and draws you in, keeping you on the edge of your seat throughout. I had several guesses to what was going on and I was wrong about all of them. That my friends, is the best kind of book to me. The book alternates between past and present and each little glimpse allows you to start connecting more and more of the puzzle pieces.

Running from her past and the death of her little's brothers death for seven years, Celeste feels like maybe she has a new start in life. That is until her high school boyfriend comes back and a stalker appears. Are they the same person? Is it someone from her past coming back to bring up old secrets? Celeste is determined to figure out what is really going on, but is she close to the flame that she will get burned?

I struggled with this book as it did not really hold my interest. I could not connect with the main character which made this a bit of a disappointing read.

An unusual domestic/physiological thriller where I really didn’t know what direction it would take. I felt for our protagonist, Celeste, a survivor of sexual assault. In the begInning. Then I didn’t like her. Then I felt she was helpless. Then I felt she was in control. And devious. And revengeful. And off we went on a twisty, surprising and sick story. Had my attention all the way to the unexpected ending.

I truly enjoyed this suspenseful novel written in response to the #metoo movement currently inspiring women to face their demons and call out their abusers.

I felt connected to Celest in the beginning but grew more weary of her as her anger progressed to action. I was horrified when her abuser moved into her neighborhood, forcing me to consider the numerous women who are forced to live or work close to their abusers.

The clever story line slowly unfolded in two time periods, 7 years past and in the present. As each characters lies, secrets, and histories are uncovered all the prices fall into place wrapping up in the perfect twist ending.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars for this slow burn thriller with an R rating for language and nature content. Thank you to a Net galley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review

I was debating on finishing this book. It started off weird for me, and I wasn’t sure I was going to like it. Once I started getting into it, after a few chapters, I couldn’t put it down. I had to know what was going to happen!! It turned out to be a great read!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

The cover and the blurb pulled me into this book, but I was rather disappointed by it.

I can’t really put my finger on it, but it didn’t work for me. The main character seems manipulative and she annoys me, even though she is the ‘victim’. The supporting characters are all written to be meaningless, which I really don’t get either. The chapters about the past are there to reinforce the main characters personality, but I find them to be distracting from the story of the present.

The only thing I do like about this book is how the story unfolds and plays out. That is really strong and sort of surprising.

What a fantastic book!! Great from beginning till end. Suspenseful, lived it. Won't be the last from this author. Her writing draws you in and leaves you wanting more.

Thanks to net galley and the publisher for an early release of this book.

Brillant so well written chilling. a story that drew me right in.The characters came alive a multilayered plot an author to follow. I will be recommending to all my friends who are fans of thrillers at their best.

This is a brilliant book. Great characters and a cracking read. I will look out for more work by this author. Highly recommended

I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review

This is some nasty mess and I loved it. The perfect book to tide me over while waiting for more Joe Goldberg. Will definitely be reading more from this author. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🔥