I read The Storm in just a few hours, the first time in months that I'd been able to read a digital book so quickly. It's dark, intense, beautiful, mesmerising and tragic, exactly what I expected from the immensely talented Amanda Jennings. I have loved all of her books to date, all well-plotted, well-written and expertly crafted, with the Cornish landscape so well-described that it is an integral part of the plot, as well as the setting. Another fabulous psychological thriller filled with secrets.

I was immediately drawn into this book whose descriptions are very accurate of Cornwall and fishing life. I liked the intertwining of the present and the past and was intrigued to know why the young lovers had split up. Obviously we are not expected to like the controlling husband and this does make him somewhat one dimensional. A good summer read

This one will have you gripped from the very first page right through to the last !!

Hannah and Nathan seem to have the perfect marriage to the outside world but behind closed doors there is a different story.

Nathan is very controlling of Hannah and their teenage son, Alex. He controls the money and what’s everything done exactly as he wants. Hannah has spent years just trying to keep the peace and does as she is told but Alex is becoming more rebellious against his dads behaviour.

After one argument Alex goes missing and Hannah is beside herself with worry. But the following day Alex returns but with him comes Cam. It soon transpires that there is no love lost between Nathan and Cam but why did Alex visit Cam, who he has never met ? And what are the consequences of Cam’s return on Hannah ?

This is a great book based on what someone is willing to do to protect the ones they love. Hannah and Alex’s relationship was a joy to read about and I absolutely found myself willing Hannah on throughout the book. The story is written in the present day and also in the past leading up to how Hannah found herself losing Cam, the love of her life, and marrying Nathan. A little of a slow starter but stick with it as it is definitely worth it !!

Thank you to HQ and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

I have mixed feelings about this book. It was beautifully written and very descriptive. I enjoyed the intricacies of the controlling relationship between Hannah and Nathan. He was a very domineering presence. However, there were some chapters that I felt weren't necessary.

A three-way perspective of both the then and now between three characters. The past chapters had their significance, but also borderlined on being a little too much.

Perhaps a little long, this was an emotive and dark story ultimately showing the sacrifice a woman makes to keep those she loved safe.

What a book!

Hannah is married to highly-esteemed lawyer Nathan Cardew and they have a teenage son called Alex. They live in a beautiful house in Cornwall that once belonged to Nathan's parents. Their marriage is far from perfect though. Nathan is controlling, makes Hannah show him receipts for everything she buys and she doesn't even have her own bank account or passport. But the full story runs much deeper.

The chapters alternate between the points of view of Hannah, Nathan and Hannah's old boyfriend, fisherman Cam Stewart, back in 1998. It is very obvious to us that Hannah loved Cam but something tragic happened which led to Hannah choosing Nathan and settling down with him, never to see Cam again...until Alex goes missing and brings Cam back into her life.

I absolutely loved this book. Nathan is a character that you just hate from the start and you feel very sorry for Hannah having to live the way she does. We are fed information about what happened and why she does put up with it in dribs and drabs which just pushes you to want to read more to find out the full story.

The Cornish setting is beautifully described, Jennings really sets the scene and the whole book just played like a movie in my head whilst reading. I know absolutely nothing about fishing but I feel like the scenes with Cam on his boat back in 1998 really taught me something!

I honestly didn't suspect what had happened at all and the ending - that last sentence - made me want to scream! Fantastic.

Set near Penzance in Cornwall, The Coast tells the story of Hannah and Nathan Cardew, their 15-year-old son, Alex, and dog, Cass. Nathan is a lawyer while Hannah doesn’t work and is a stay-at-home mum. The family live in New Mill in Trevose House, which was originally Nathan’s family home and used to be much larger but his father, Charles, was a gambler and ended up selling off parts of the estate to pay his debts. He died suddenly on Nathan’s 13th birthday.

Nathan is very controlling and won’t let Hannah do anything without his approval. He tells her what to wear, won’t let her have her own money, checks her receipts, she isn’t allowed to work or have her own car. He expects everything to be done to a schedule – from when meals are served to when they have sex. Their relationship is toxic: he twists her words, gaslights her and tries to convince her that he’s told her things when he hasn’t. He also enjoys putting her down at every opportunity and tries to make her feel grateful that he wants to be with her. Hannah makes excuses for Nathan to Alex and others and claims he’s just overprotective.

Hannah only has one friend, Vicky, who she’s known since they were at nursery together. Vicky is married to Phil and they have four-year-old twins. It’s coming up to her 40th birthday and she wants Hannah to go away for the night but they’re both expecting Nathan to refuse.

To try and retain a small amount of independence, Hannah meets Vicky every Tuesday in secret at a cafe in Penzance and she also sneaks out at night to smoke the pack of cigarettes that Vicky gives her every other week. Nathan has never liked Vicky – he thinks she’s a bad influence, common and a flirt – and he hates smoking. Hannah is also clever with money and uses the cash Nathan gives her carefully; buying cheaper products and pretending to lose receipts so that she can squirrel away a small amount to treat herself, her mum or Alex.

Hannah has routines that keep her going, like doing things on certain days. Her mum is in a care home after a bad fall and she visits her regularly and so does Alex. Her son is the most important thing in her life and the main reason why she hasn’t left Nathan. She can’t escape as she fears what will happen to Alex. She suffered postnatal depression when he was younger and ran away with him. Nathan said she was endangering their baby and took away her passport and bank card and he continues to uses her supposed instability as a threat to stop her from leaving him.

The story is told from the viewpoints of Hannah, Nathan and her ex-boyfriend, Cameron (Cam) Stewart, and switches between 1998 and the present day, which is 15 years later. We learn how Hannah met both men in Newlyn near Penzance when she was working in her dad’s bakery and Cam was a fisherman on The Annamae, and how things developed and the competition between the two men, who knew each other from primary school, as they vied for her affections.

When Alex disappears after an argument with his dad and Hannah’s mum falls ill, these two events are the catalyst for the truth about what happened in the past being revealed. There’s a brooding atmosphere, which is matched by the brewing storm, which is the focus of the key events of 1998 that have shaped the rest of Hannah’s life.

This compelling, well-layered story had me intrigued from the start as we know that something shattering happened 15 years previously that affected Hannah, Nathan and Cam and caused the change in direction of all their lives. Hannah still feels so guilty about what happened in the past and her punishment is her abusive life with Nathan. The coercive control of their relationship is very chilling and you can see how easy it is for someone to be in a situation like that and how difficult it would be to get away, with no money or means of escape, and the terrifying thought of uprooting your entire life.

This was a tense, dramatic and traumatic read at times – I was willing Hannah to fight back, stand up to Nathan and break free from his controlling ways. The scenes with Cam and the other fishermen as they faced the storm were also gripping and very nerve racking. There was a great sense of tension as the story unfolded and the truth was revealed. Nothing is as clear cut as it seems and there were several instances of misdirection and various twists and turns.

Being a fisherman sounds a tough life and it was interesting to get an insight into how difficult a job it is and how harsh and unforgiving the sea and weather conditions are. The men have some good banter though and enjoy their downtime in the pub!

Overall, I really enjoyed this dark, well-written and cleverly plotted novel. There was a great build up as we got to the climax of the story and realised why the main protagonists were behaving as they were. It’s a chilling and disturbing read and one I’m still thinking about days later. The storm scenes were very tense and atmospheric and conveyed the drama and trauma of the events well.

Not my favourite read I have to say. Hannah could and did in parts win my sympathy but the whole plot got heavy going and so a bit boring for certainly the middle third. Predictable in places and some unlikely situations especially when Hannah who was justly afraid of her husband risked a night away from him with someone else.
I know the ending was a twist but I really disliked the last paragraph. Obviously I’m not going to give it away but if felt weak to me.

Amanda Jennings is a new author for me and I will definitely be looking out for more of her work. This is a story with lots of twists as it goes from past and present. It is also very descriptive of the daily life and challenges of fishermen. Well worth a read

A sincere thank you to the publisher, author and netgalley for providing me with an ebook copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This isn’t a book/genre that I normally read, however, I was drawn to it and I’m pretty glad I did. For the most part I enjoyed it but it jumped a bit too often. The characters were well thought out and I found myself cheering Hannah on. It definitely had a dark side to it but depicted the varying lengths that some people will go to keep what they want and not care what it does to them. Abuse doesn’t always show scars on the outside.

I’m glad I gave this book a go as I really enjoyed it.

4****

I really enjoyed Amanda Jennings' previous book, The Cliff House, and her beloved Cornwall is once again the location for her latest novel, The Storm. Set mainly around the fishing village of Newlyn and moving between the present day and twenty years earlier, the reader witnesses how the lives of a number of people were changed by the dramatic events of one night in 1998. Fragments of that eventful night are glimpsed in the prologue but the full picture will not become clear until the end of the book.

For Hannah, the events of that night led to her marriage to Nathan, a kind of Faustian bargain she entered into to protect others. Nathan's obsessive jealousy has seen him control every aspect of Hannah's life. She steels herself to complicity in this out of guilt - "Our marriage is punishment for what I did" - and for the sake of their son, Alex. So she plays the part expected of her and recites her lines in order to keep the peace. Alex is pretty much the only source of joy in Hannah's life along with her best friend, Vicky.

Nathan is one disturbing individual. Outwardly he's a model citizen and pillar of the community, but inside he's something quite different. As Hannah remarks, he's "my very own Jekyll and Hyde". A damaged individual, a traumatic event in Nathan's childhood explains, if not excuses, his actions towards Hannah.

In the scenes set in 1998, the author vividly depicts the back-breaking work of the six-man crew aboard a small trawler and the dangers they face on a daily basis. Taking such risks out of economic necessity, a safe return to harbour is never guaranteed but when it occurs, the crew seek release through drink, and sometimes drugs, in the local pub. When the Atlantic storm of the title hits the trawler, the awesome force of the sea is evident. "Six men, no more than specks of dust on an ocean so powerful and unpredictable, so savage, they could be swallowed up in the blink of an eye." The consequences of the storm will change lives forever.

I'm not sure which element I found more compelling: the chilling portrait of Hannah and Nathan's toxic relationship or the scenes set on the storm-lashed trawler.  The Storm is an intensely atmospheric and compelling drama that shows even the most carefully guarded secrets have a way of coming to the surface. The final lines sent chills down my spine.

To the outside world Hannah married the perfect man. Behind the closed doors of their imposing home it’s a very different story. Nathan controls everything Hannah does. He chooses her clothes, checks her receipts, and keeps her passport locked away. But why does she let him? Years before, in the midst of a relentless storm, the tragic events of one night changed everything. And Hannah has been living with the consequences ever since. Keeping Nathan happy. Doing as she’s told.

But the past is about to catch up with them.

Set against the unforgiving backdrop of a Cornish fishing port in the ‘90s, this is a devastating exploration of the power of coercive control in a marriage where nothing is quite as it seems…

Thank you to HQ for sending me an exclusive widget. Unfortunately, due to just being so busy (which in the current climate I can’t believe I am saying!), I have only just finished this novel!

This book was hugely addictive. It explores obsessive, controlling relationships and you can feel the suspense in the writing that something bad, really bad is going to happen.

This book was a great read and I will be looking for more by the same author!

The Storm is another absorbing novel from the acclaimed Amanda Jennings; if you haven't read In Her Wake you should put it on your list to do so!

The title itself both refers to the weather and the devastation that can be caused by one, particularly if you are a fisherman of the Cornish coast, and the storminess of our lead character's private life. Hannah and Nathan have been locked into what seems to be from the reader's perspective, a miserable life and their son, Alex, is another casualty to the unhealthy home life. Then Alex disappears and the past and the present collide in a perfect storm.

This is a story whose magic is only enhanced by the setting and the realistic way that the life of a Cornish fisherman is bought so vividly to life. The storyline is engaging and many reader's will want to understand the motivations of all the key characters.

This tale was very absorbing - not only was there a story to be told and a plot to unravel but there were so many more issues addressed. Nathan is a lawyer who gives back to his community - he is very popular - he has a lovely home - a wife, Hannah and a son, Alex. As he repeatedly reminds Hannah - it is his house! Nathan is a control freak and he keeps Hannah on a very short leash - no money, no freedom, no friends, reliant on him for everything.
As the story progresses we learn how Hannah's past has led to this situation and there are several twists to unravel. Hannah at times appears calculating and Alex is growing up and rebelling.
All their characters are well portrayed and fascinating.
This is my first book by this author, certainly not my last!
Many thanks to Netgalley/Amanda Jennings/HQ for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Review 👇🏻📚

I was kindly asked by @hqstories to take part in a blog tour of this novel called 'The Storm' by @amanda_jennings1 and boy am I glad they asked me scroll down to see why.. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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To the outside world Hannah married the perfect man. Behind the closed doors of their imposing house it's a very different story. Nathan controls everything Hannah does. He chooses her clothes, checks her receipts, and keeps her passport locked away. But why does she let him?
Years before, in the midst of a relentless storm, the tragic events of one night changed everything and Hannah has been living with the consequences every since. Keeping Nathan happy. Doing as she's told.
But the past is about to catch up with them...
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I was gripped to this book from the moment I started it, I read the lot in a whole day, I just couldn’t put it down. It’s an emotional rollercoaster, you’ll love, hate and be suspicious of all the characters. 'The Storm' is such a chilling and gripping read and it’s about love and what sacrifices you would make to save someone even if it means giving up the life you wanted. This book would make a fabulous TV drama. Download it, buy it & love it as much as I did. OUT TOMORROW!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Storm by Amanda Jennings is a fascinating family drama that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. I was gripped by the story of Hannah and Nathan, whose marriage isn’t quite as straight forward as it at first seems.

The beautiful but unforgiving setting of a Cornish fishing port in the 1990’s is the backdrop for this suspense filled drama that kept me on my toes from beginning to end. What happened all those years ago on the night of the storm that changed Hannah and Nathan’s lives forever? Why, ever since that night, does Hannah allow Nathan to dictate how she lives her life? And how is the tragedy of the past about to make itself known in the present?

I loved this book. Amanda Jennings has written a fast paced and gripping tale that’s full of twists, turns and surprises to keep you guessing right up until the final page has been turned. An atmospheric read that I thoroughly enjoyed, The Storm is a book I would highly recommend.

The Storm was a book I devoured in a day and totally loved it.
Hannah is married to lawyer Nathan Cardew, they have a son, Alex and they live in Trevose House, Cornwall. Hannah is controlled by Nathan in every sense, she has no passport and isn’t even allowed a debit card. Nathan gives Hannah money for shopping and expects receipts and exact change every time! He doesn’t physically abuse her but his words do more damage than his hands ever could. To the outside world though Hannah lives a perfect life in a big house, lawyer for a husband who has just won an award for all the charity work he’s done but Nathan holds a secret of Hannah’s and she knows if it gets out it will be more harmful to her than her life is now.
The book bounces between past and present and shows Hannah when she was young and in love with a boy called Cal, who worked on the fishing boats and I loved reading about the nautical side, especially whilst in the storm.
This book had my pulse rushing and loved it, I hoped I’d love it as much as “The Cliff House” and yes I did!!
I would like to thank Netgalley and HQ for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

Nothing about Hannah and Nathan Cardew’s life is normal. Living in Cornwall with son Alex, I felt Hannah’s life was unbearably sad. She’s kept a prisoner within her own home by her manipulative, controlling husband, denied access to a job, a car or even money. Hannah is literally at his mercy and has developed strategies over the years to cope with the enormity of such a depressing situation, her resilience humbling. Once an ordinary, sociable young woman, I wondered how on earth she’d ended up so miserable and isolated. Conversations and words are forever twisted by Nathan and she feels unable to escape. Fear of losing her son Alex (and of course having no means with which to escape) keeps her by Nathan’s side, firmly rooted in a very toxic relationship. Hannah is Alex’s safe harbour, stuck in the middle of a warring relationship between husband and son, desperately trying to keep the peace. I can only imagine how living with such a cowardly bully must be. Terrifying, demeaning and debilitating, constantly treading on eggshells, her life must be exhausting, her personality slowly eroded over time to fit her husband’s mould. Yet tiny glimpses of her true character shine through occasionally as evidenced by her snatched smoking opportunities and secret weekly meetings with best friend Vicky. Top marks to Vicky for sticking by her friend through thick and thin but when Alex suddenly disappears, it’s not clear whether Hannah’s life as she knows it is about to implode and whether anyone can help her. With her son’s disappearance acting as a catalyst for events that unfold, Hannah’s past is about to collide with her present.

One of the main themes of this psychological drama is jealousy and long held rivalry for Hannah’s affections. In her past life, a blossoming relationship with fisherman Cam Stewart looked promising with a faint hint of what her life could look like in the future. But then there was Nathan and how he wheedled his way into Hannah’s life, claiming her love is up for the reader to discover. It’s a slow reveal but it will keep you guessing. I desperately wanted to know why Hannah chose Nathan over Cam. I wanted to know where Cam was now, unsure whether he was dead or alive. Brief recollections of a happier past were obviously painful for Hannah to bring to mind so I couldn’t help thinking what had prompted her to exclude Cam from her life.

As the title suggests it’s a storm with a near fatal fishing trip for Cam and his fishermen buddies that sets in motion a tragic chain of events, steering Hannah’s life in a particular direction. Lies, guilt and shame all stem from this one night with an incident long buried that shouldn’t never have been covered up. Misjudgments and misunderstandings have led to years of wrongly made conclusions that beg to be challenged if Hannah is ever to experience happiness again.

The author makes is easy for the reader to despise Nathan as a character since coercive controlling behaviour is a much loved tool for muddying the waters in any psychological drama. Automatically my allegiance was with Hannah and Alex whilst also knowing that nothing is ever as black and white as it seems. I knew Hannah wouldn’t be entirely blameless but exactly why was the hook that reeled me in, turning the pages rapidly in search for answers to my questions. I had no doubt that Hannah believes the life she is living with Nathan is all she deserves, that it is punishment for some past misdemeanour. Whatever secret it is that she is trying to hide must have the potential to create huge repercussions for herself and Alex if her willingness to stay with Nathan is anything to go by.

I loved the nautical theme and the author’s descriptions of the life of a fisherman. The gruelling work, the long hours, the time spent away from family together with the unforgiving and cruel nature of sea seemed to be an analogy for Hannah’s lonely miserable life imprisoned within her home at the mercy of a vindictive and manipulative bully. The banter between the fishermen provides some light relief from the more hazardous aspects of a fisherman’s life although the scenes at sea with the storm raging felt very real. (Not that I would know since I’ve only to step one toe onto a boat before I start throwing up!!) I most certainly don’t possess sea legs like Slim and Davy and Geren and Cam do but however much research was needed for this piece, I give credit to the author for convincing, heart pounding action aboard the Annamae.

With such a range of emotions provoked by the storyline and plenty of the less savoury aspects of human nature on show, I enjoyed reading The Storm and felt invested in the outcome. All too often storylines are concluded neatly with no ends left untied so I appreciated the ambiguity of the ending with the reader left to make up their own mind what the future might hold for Hannah. Intriguingly I felt that might not even be the end of her story.....Definitely worth a read and a solid 4 stars in my opinion. My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.

"It's a storm glass... Seems there's always been a storm coming, right from when he gave it to me."

This beautifully written family drama was instantly intriguing and immersive. Questions swam in my head as I was transfixed by the mystery of what happened on ‘that night’ fifteen years ago. Just what is the secret still haunting Hannah and keeping her chained to a man she can’t stand?

Told in dual timelines from multiple points of view, The Storm is a story of secrets, lies and love set in Cornwall, one of my favourite parts of the world. But this isn’t a sunny summer tale, and the air is charged with something dark and foreboding, a powerful storm unleashing its fury, destroying lives in its wake. What will Hannah’s life look like once the storm has finally passed?

"Nathan drains me. The way he twists everything and the mental gymnastics I have to perform in order to keep my head straight is exhausting. It doesn't matter how strong I feel when we begin a conversation, by the end I'm shattered."

The characters are real and relatable, with Hannah someone I connected with on a very deep and personal level. To the outside world, Hannah and Nathan have a picture-perfect marriage. But behind the facade is a marriage of abuse and fear. While the author avoids being graphic, the abuse is written in an authentic way; Nathan ruling the house through fear, threats, isolation and financial control. I hated him. He sent shivers down my spine and anger coursing through my veins. He was a typical bully who cycles between demands, playing the hero and then the victim. A man terrified of being unmasked. Just thinking about him is making my blood boil!

Spectacularly written, absorbing and emotive, the malevolence and dread drip from the pages. I couldn’t put this down, compelled to keep reading late into the night as the truth is slowly revealed through clever twists and turns. The Storm is an outstanding mystery that I highly recommend.

To outsiders, Hannah and Nathan Cardew have the perfect family life and marriage. They have a lovely house, Nathan is a successful lawyer and a pillar of the community but looks are deceiving. Behind closed doors, life is very different. Hannah is a prisoner in her marriage, not having any money of her own and having to account for any time she spends away from the home. Nathan makes her account for every single penny she spends, even making her produce receipts. He says he loves her. Why on earth does she tolerate someone treating her in that way.

The story flits between past and present. The past being when Hannah was a confident young girl, fun-loving and working in her father’s bakery. She catches the eye of both Nathan and Cameron, a young fisherman. Despite Nathan’s money and posh restaurant dinners, its Cameron she really likes however tragedy looms and lives are changed.

This book invoked such strong emotions for me. I loathed Nathan with a passion and I felt angry with Hannah for going along with it and allowing him to treat her so badly. Nathan was an awful character and his manipulative, controlling, coercive treatment of Hannah in humiliating her, making her doubt herself was no less than psychological abuse. I couldn’t understand why she didn’t leave him. Of course she didn’t. She put up with everything because of her love for their son Alex.

This is not a straightforward tale of coercive control and manipulation. There is far more to the story and as the layers unfold, we see what has happened to lead to this situation and why Hannah chooses to stay. I was completely taken by surprise at the way events unfolded, not everything was as it seemed and things began to fall into place.

It’s called The Storm for a reason – part of the story focuses on a dramatic and traumatic event at sea and shows how fisherman are at the mercy of the weather and the dangers they face. The story is set in Cornwall and there is a tremendous sense of place with atmospheric and vivid description.

The Storm is an emotive and powerful story that begins slowly but gradually the pace increases as more is revealed. Written mainly from Hannah’s perspective but also with chapters told from the POV of Nathan and Cam, it is a powerful story of love, loss, actions and consequences. Whatever you may feel about the characters, they have been perfectly drawn in this gripping and totally engrossing domestic thriller that has a sinister undertone bubbling away underneath. Beautifully written, I love how the author pulled it all together at the end. Definitely recommended.

My thanks to HQ for the place on the tour and for providing the Netgalley copy to review.

The Storm is a dark, disturbing and exceptional story from the fabulous wordsmith, Amanda Jennings. Not only is there a storm in the book of the same name, but it's almost as if a storm has been written into the book itself. The atmosphere is so charged and the tension is palpable that you really do need to brace yourself for the inevitable boom of thunder that heralds the peak of the storm.

Something terrible happened after the storm that saw a Cornish fishing boat lucky to return to port; sometimes it's more dangerous on land than at sea. The storm caused more destruction than it planned as it changed Hannah's life forever and drove her into the arms of Nathan. Nathan is an repulsive man; he's handsome, successful and rich on the outside but psychotic, controlling and completely unstable underneath. Hannah is trapped in the marriage as Nathan holds something over her that he threatens to reveal when he thinks she has stepped out of line. Hannah succumbs to Nathan's control to protect their son, Alex, but now he is a teenager he's starting to answer back and this causes Nathan's temper to flare even more.

Oh Hannah, what have you done? I couldn't understand her marrying Nathan after such a short space of time but it all becomes clear through the flashbacks to that fateful night in 1998. Nathan is a bully and an abuser, hiding it all under the banner of love in his twisted little mind. My heart really went out to Hannah who was just about to start a relationship with fisherman, Cameron Stewart before the storm blew her into the path of rich lawyer, Nathan Cardew. It really felt like Nathan was holding Hannah underwater and only letting her up for air now and again in order to keep her alive; that's no way to live and Hannah has no life to speak of. I don't know how she didn't poison his hotpot, is all I can say!

The Storm is a dark and brooding tale from the immensely talented wordsmith, Amanda Jennings. It's a compelling read and so very difficult to put down that you just need to ride the waves until the storm has unleashed its fury. An absolutely outstanding novel and highly recommended.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.