I did not realise that this was the second book in this series. I found it to be rather boring and it was not for me at all. It was all very unrealistic, shame as it is set on Jersey, one of my favourite places.

If there’s one thing you should know before picking up Melanie Blake’s latest novel, Guilty Women, it’s that you’re going to have a lot of fun. There are discussions of hard-hitting topics such as addiction, assault and more, but Blake ensures that they don’t bog you down entirely, counter-balancing with a story that will fully envelop the reader and bring a huge grin to the face, whilst also delivering a blow to the gut with the more twisted turns of fate.
The celebration of women in all of their shapes, sizes and differing personalities is at the forefront of Guilty Women, which picks up four months after the murderous and chaotic events of the Ruthless Women finale. During a live Christmas Day episode on the always-surprising set of worldwide sensation and soap opera, Falcon Bay, new network owner and star of the show Madeline Kane was eaten by a shark. Though it appears to be an accident, a group of the soap’s most powerful females know different; and some of them are willing to go to any lengths necessary to keep their secrets buried.
Whilst I would completely recommend reading the original book from which this sequel was spawned, Ruthless Women, this is also a very plausible entry point. The details of the madness that ensued throughout those 300 or so pages are explained well, with enough description that those who weren’t lucky enough to read the aforementioned novel can still enjoy this one. What’s more, we know that a third and final entry is also on the way.
At times, a trilogy can be bogged down by the part that comes in the middle. We saw it with the recent Halloween Kills release, which was quite clearly created as a cash cow rather than to further the story along. Here though? Absolutely no complaints. Guilty Women is essential reading and lays the foundations perfectly for what should be a rip-roaring conclusion.
You may feel as though you know exactly where the story is headed, but Blake has such an incredible knack of flipping the narrative on its head that you’d be a fool to make a guess. Packed full of raw passion, humanity, outlandish but still grounded storylines and of course, a good dollop of sex, this is undoubtedly the most fun you’re going to have when reading a novel centred around murder this year.
To miss out on this story would be criminal. If you’re a fan of high-stakes, lust-fuelled good times, then make sure to pick up a copy.

This was everything you need for a thriller and crime story. It is not as black and white as you first think and like most typical thrillers, is full of twists. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5/5.

I simply loved, loved, loved, loved it. GUILTY WOMEN starts out six months after the world-wide broadcast of the ill-fated shark attack on antagonist and Falcon Bay new-owner Madeline Kane, and goes on from there. There are many, many surprises in store, like another wild death, the arrival of old lovers, new lovers, the return of some villains, and another whopper of a finale. Suffice to say, GUILTY WOMEN is definitely a grabber. I cannot wait for next year’s follow-up. My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Pure escapism.

When the lives of the cast and crew of a fictional soap-opera become even more fantastical than those of the characters then you know you are in for a rollercoaster of a story. When death, illicit affairs, pregnancies and kidnapping are part of the plot this becomes a book you don’t want to put down..

This is definitely a sizzling hot, romp of a read. I no it's been said Melanie Blake is the new Jackie Collins but to be completely honest I think Melanie's books are a lot raunchier than Jackie's. The sex scenes are descriptive and hot, I had to have a fan close by at all times. I loved how Guilty Women started directly from Ruthless Women and there wasn't a whole lot of repetition about the first book. The plot flowed consistently throughout, the characters jumped of the page and it's a story of very powerful, independent, strong willed, feisty women, the majority over the age of forty, which I loved. The ending blew my mind and it ended on a whopper of a cliff hanger. This book will be one of the best books of 2022 without a shadow of a doubt and I will shout from the rooftops and recommend it to everyone I know. Huge Congratulations to Melanie Blake for another stunning, unputdownable, gripping, PHENOMENAL read. I loved everything about it.

Have you ever picked a book up read it and thought what the hell did I just read. This is the case for me with guilty women but in a good way. It’s like Falcon Crest crossed with dynasty for those of you that remember those TV programmes. It opens with the death of a character eaten by shark on live TV.

We then follow the lives of the women as they work at the TV production company that make the drama series Falcon Bay. New deaths happen. Secrets are kept. Lies told. It’s like reading a new Jackie Collins

As the story unfolds we begin to discover more about the characters. I for one found myself more and more engrossed and invested in these women. By the end of the book I’m finding myself longing to get my hands on the next instalment.

Many thanks to the publisher and Jeanette Gary for the opportunity to see an advance copy.

An ok read little bit confusing going backwards and forwards . Was ok but not fantastic. Worth a read though .

If you like soap operas then Melanie Blake is for you.
Dishy, devious leads run wild in her dramatic, bitchy world of Falcon Bay. This sequel to Ruthless Women, Guilty Women returns to the world of our favourite devious sassy women just as we left them, with quite the explosive plot and steamy, thrilling writing close to Jackie Collins.

I read this book as a standalone although it is number 2 in a trilogy, this did not impact my enjoyment. A sassy tale of powerful women who could easily feature in a Jackie Collins novel. The plot captivated me from the beginning and the unexpected ending was a welcome surprise.

The book revolves around the soap opera Falcon bay and its stars and studio staff who work on it.
This is the sequel to Ruthless women , it is not necessary to have read the first in the series to enjoy this story, there is enough back story to understand the characters and why they act in the way they do.
The book is well written and the characters are well rounded but not all are likeable .
It’s an easy read and fast paced .
Pure escapism!
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK.

I didn’t realise when I started reading Guilty Women that it was the second book in Melanie Blake’s series, but having done a bit of research while reading the second book – I realised that although reading Ruthless Women first would be beneficial for the backstory, it’s not strictly necessary. There is enough information dotted throughout Guilty Women to inform you of the past so that the present makes sense. Having said that, during my research I read a few reviews of Ruthless Women and it seems like it’s a really fun read that’s full of behind the scenes shenanigans, sex, scheming and more drama than an on-screen soap opera could ever hope to offer!

Guilty Women begins following the explosive fortieth anniversary (live) episode of Falcon Bay that gripped the attention of the world for all the wrong reasons – the dramatic turn of events at the end of the first book leads straight into the beginning of the second book – where the cast and crew are still reeling following the events that took place that fateful day – a day that was born out of desperation in the attempts to save Falcon Bay – a long-running worldwide syndicated soap opera, from being pulled by the network after a dip in viewership. The live broadcast was only part of the plan though, to boost ratings back towards that of the show’s heyday, they also came up with the plan to air a reality tv special featuring actresses vying for the pivotal role of a new female antagonist – one who would be introduced during the live broadcast after the winner is chosen by the tv audience. After the unthinkable happens and there is a horrific death during the show’s live Christmas broadcast – the show is understandably put on hiatus while there is an investigation. Guilty Women see the characters dealing with their guilt over what happened, the reoccurring nightmares and dealing with the fallout knowing they’re due to start filming again soon!

There are a bunch of great characters in this book and it does a great job of highlighting a slew of wonderfully strong-willed women: Catherine Belle – The Leading Lady, Amanda King – The Producer, Farrah Adams – The Writer/Director, Sheena McQueen – The Super-Agent and Helen Gold – The Casting Director. All over fifty years of age, long-running members of Falcon Bay – and still trying to break down the boys’ club doors. You see their clear ruthless ambition to prevail and the daily battles they endure to survive the toxic work environment on set that is filled with misogyny and ageism, something that the women thought they’d managed to resolve, but as the plot progresses, the women begin to realise that the unintended consequences of their power play and the scheming that has lead to their ill-gotten-gains may well be short-lived! However deserved they might be!

With a Showrunner, out to get revenge, a journalist ready and waiting with a shovel to dig up dirt at the slightest hint of scandal and five glamorous women, all with secrets that they are desperately struggling to keep a hold of and plenty of plot twists throughout, Guilty Women was something of a guilty pleasure for me and for the most part kept my attention while wondering what was going to happen next. For that reason and the way the bookended with one hell of a cliffhanger, I think I’ll find myself picking up the third instalment, Vengeful Women which is due to be released next year.

My thanks to the author and Harper Collins UK for my advance copy to review via Netgalley.


Three scandalous soap-stars

I went straight from book 1 to this book and was glad I did as the story followed on from the aftermath of the first book. It could possibly be read on its own as there were lots of back story.
I liked the story of older women in the cut-throat world of producing a soap.

I wasn't a huge of fan of this book: it's gripping and twisty but I couldn't care about the characters and the story fell flat.
Not my cup of tea
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This book is perfectly set up for the sequel. It's full of 'mic drop' moments and cheesy sex scenes that will delight many readers. The men are dastardly and weak, the women are scheming and strong. I already have the plot of the second book mapped out in my head. Good Times.

Gulty women it has sex, love, revenge everything that is required for a read of a lifetime.... i loved it... it took me back to the Jackie Collins era of glamour sex drugs and scandal lots of it .... take a walk on the wild side for once and dive into this gritty book. It will bring out the vixen in you

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.

Whist this is a sequel, it is not difficult to pick up the story. Set during the filming of a soap opera in Jersey this is a rollicking read involving scandals and secrets. There is a sense of an 80s blockbuster, but it is fun to go along for the ride.

I didn't realise Guilty Women was a sequel but it wasn't too hard to pick up the back story. In fact, if anything, Ms Blake has a tendency to overwrite and over explain. I found it mildly interesting and enjoyable but ultimately too reminiscent of the eighties and sadly lacking in depth of character. It passed a fairly pleasant couple of hours on a Bank Holiday afternoon and, for that, It has earned itself three stars.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you so much for the chance to read this book early.
I feel really bad giving it a low score but I really struggled to get into it and thought it would be better as an actual tv soap rather than a book.