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The Rose Petal Beach

4.01 of 5 stars 4.01 · rating details · 671 ratings · 142 reviews

Every love story has a dangerous twist.

Tamia Challey is horrified when her husband, Scott, is accused of something terrible – but when she discovers who his accuser is, everything goes into freefall. Backed into a corner and unsure what to think, Tamia is forced to choose who she instinctively believes. But this choice has dire consequences for all concerned, especially w...more

Hardcover, 549 pages

Published August 30th 2012 by Quercus

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Community Reviews

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Oct 06, 2012 Jennifer Joyce rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'm a huge fan of Dorothy Koomson and, despite only discovering her wonderful books last year, she is one of my favourite authors and The Rose Petal Beach is another example of why. Dorothy Koomson's writing is exquisite, seemingly simple and flowing yet powerful, bringing the reader into the very centre of her characters' lives. I always feel as though I am there, feeling every emotion they are going through. Her characters are complex - nobody is perfect or bad to the core - but that only make...more

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Sep 05, 2012 Best Books To Read rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have read all of Dorothy Koomson's books and in all honesty have loved all of them. They may have very beautiful covers, but don't let them fool you people. Hidden behind those beautiful covers lies a well constructed book that is far from beautiful and in the case of her latest book the story is almost sinister. Dorothy's books may well be categorised into Women's fiction, but this almost has a Suspense feel to it and the only way I can describe it is that it was just as gripping as a Kern Ro...more I have read all of Dorothy Koomson's books and in all honesty have loved all of them. They may have very beautiful covers, but don't let them fool you people. Hidden behind those beautiful covers lies a well constructed book that is far from beautiful and in the case of her latest book the story is almost sinister. Dorothy's books may well be categorised into Women's fiction, but this almost has a Suspense feel to it and the only way I can describe it is that it was just as gripping as a Kern Rose kind of book, but minus the multiple dead bodies!

Her more recent books have started to take a more serious theme to them and I have found myself preferring this more serious side to her storytelling. The Rose Petal Beach is a love story with some serious dangerous elements to it. Tamia Challey is married to Scott and they have two wonderful children. However, when Scott is arrested and accused of a horrific crime, things start to go very wrong. When Tami realises what he is accused of and who the accuser is her life goes into freefall and the life she has known all along seems to be disintegrating before her eyes.

Within the first three to four chapters I was feeling nervous. Why was there so much chopping and changing between Tami and two other characters, what was the meaning of it all and why was it not making any sense to me. As usual I had absolutely no reason to be fearful as by the halfway stage I was fighting sleep because I just had to keep reading. It's very hard to review this without spoilers so unfortunately I will have to keep certain opinions to a minimum, but I will say this is a book that will keep you page turning well into the early hours.

The first half of the book features Tami and her family and friends and things start to fall into place and make a little sense. After my first night of trying (and failing) to stay awake, I started again in the morning only to be thrown by another dramatic series of events. The book has one theme that it is worked around and you see relationships develop, before, during and after events that seem to unfold and become more relevant, the more the reader uncovers. By the three quarter mark I had got it all sussed, and then I turned the page and changed my mind! That happened a lot during this book.

Like I said before, it's hard to review without spoiling it, but I will say that this book delves deep into the emotional state of various people whilst they try to deal with major events. It is a book that although very driven by emotion, has a serious amount of suspense from start to finish. I think in one respect this may be her best book yet, only because it has such a sinister and unusual feel to it. This may not be everybody's cup of tea but one that I think many fans will love, and people that haven't tried will be surprised with.

Whatever you do, DON'T judge this book by its cover. It may be one of her most beautiful covers of hers yet, but it doesn't show just how dark and dangerous the story really is. It's funny that now I have finished the story the cover doesn't look quite as innocent as it did before, but is certainly a book that I won't be forgetting in a hurry! If you haven't read DK before, you may like to give this a try, trust me...it's certainly not all romance and flowers! (less)

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Sep 01, 2012 Danderma rated it 3 of 5 stars

Mere minutes ago I set down my iPad, sighed, then turned on my laptop to write this review with my head still buzzing with Dorothy Koomson's latest novel.

I love Dorothy's books. She is one of my favorite authors if not the favorite. I love her jumbled up story line where points in the story go back and forth in time. I love her realistic scenarios and even more realistic endings. No sappy endings in Dorothy's books. The last book I read was in February 2011 and I stumbled upon it by mistake in D...more Mere minutes ago I set down my iPad, sighed, then turned on my laptop to write this review with my head still buzzing with Dorothy Koomson's latest novel.

I love Dorothy's books. She is one of my favorite authors if not the favorite. I love her jumbled up story line where points in the story go back and forth in time. I love her realistic scenarios and even more realistic endings. No sappy endings in Dorothy's books. The last book I read was in February 2011 and I stumbled upon it by mistake in Dubai (post). Afterwards I vowed to keep track on when the next novel was due and here newest one, The Rose Petal Beach, was out on 29th August 2012.

Sadly I was flying out of the UK on the night of 29 August so I couldn't get a physical copy and we all know how hard it is to get books on time here in Kuwait. I really, really, really wanted to read the book ASAP so I had sadly resolved to checking out the iBook library while tossing and turning in bed on my first night back and lo and behold, I found it there! I downloaded it immediately, tucked the edges of my duvet tightly around me, and read and read until the battery of the bloody iPad died on me. That was Thursday night.

I've just finished it -I'm writing this book at 1 am on 2 Sep by the way- and I have to say it didn't disappoint at all. I loved the story, I loved the different characters and how the story moves and gets narrated from their point of view.There was never a boring moment and at one point in the book I had lifted my head up, sighed in happiness, and went back to reading the book. I didn't get out much either because its the kind of story that keeps you wanting more. I also had a tug of hate-love war with some of the characters but I don't want to say too much so this doesn't turn into a spoiler post.

Now that its, very sadly, finished, I have to say I've enjoyed it a lot. If you've ever known someone your entire life and then just had them stab you in the back. If you've ever fallen out with someone and thought to yourself was it all real before it went down hill. If you thought that people didn't change, either to grow old or grow up or sometime grow more childish, then this is the book that's going to set your perspective straight. Nothing is certain in life and you can never know if the next knock on your door will mean the end of your life as you know it, therefore, make the most of what you have right now and be grateful for it.

Also, there is a reason why the book is so special to me. You see, I've discovered that the author Dorothy has a twitter account (god bless social media!) and I've sent a tweet to her about missing the publishing date of the book. Guess what? She replied!!!

Yes I screamed a bit when I woke up and read her reply tweet to me. I'm so happy! Imagine if I did indeed get an early copy? I'd be over the moon! That was so sweet of Dorothy. I hope that one day I'd get to be as successful and amazing as a writer as she is :)(less)

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Aug 30, 2012 Megan Readinginthesunshine rated it 5 of 5 stars

Myself, and my Nan are huge fans of Dorothy Koomson, so I was very excited when a copy of her latest book The Rose Petal Beach arrived in the post! Actually, I think my Nan was more excited than I was, she tore off the packaging and practically started reading it on the spot!

I must say firstly, the cover is STUNNING!!! I was very intrigued by it, and I absolutely loved how there was a story and background to The Rose Petal Beach. I love little tales and old stories and the story of The Rose Peta...more Myself, and my Nan are huge fans of Dorothy Koomson, so I was very excited when a copy of her latest book The Rose Petal Beach arrived in the post! Actually, I think my Nan was more excited than I was, she tore off the packaging and practically started reading it on the spot!

I must say firstly, the cover is STUNNING!!! I was very intrigued by it, and I absolutely loved how there was a story and background to The Rose Petal Beach. I love little tales and old stories and the story of The Rose Petal Beach was brilliant, it was fascinating and Dorothy Koomson cleverly tied it in to the book. I won’t go into the tale as I don’t want to ruin it, but it was a great addition, and one of my favourite bits of the book.

The story opens with a dramatic scene: All is well in the Challey household, the children are playing before bed, one in their pyjamas already, the other showing her father Scott Challey something she had learnt at school that day. Tamia Challey is happily watching them. Then comes a knock at the door: Police march in and arrest Scott, who seemingly already knows what he is being handcuffed for and quietly goes with them. Tamia is left with crying and frightened children, confused and unaware of what her husband has been arrested for, and even more puzzled that he knew more than what he was letting on.

What follows after is Tamia taking us back and forth between the past and the present, reliving important moments of her life which link up to what is happening in the present day. This was a fantastic idea of Dorothy’s, and it kept me hooked to the pages. I was very interested in Tamia and Scott’s background story, how they met, and what happened in their life leading up to that moment. As well as reading things from Tamia’s perspective, we are also given chapters from Beatrix (or Bea, to all her friends), the Challey’s neighbour and one of Tamia’s best friends. This really works well as the reader gains extra information from a different set of eyes, and it’s very intriguing to see things from her point of view.

Dorothy Koomson has created some complex and interesting characters, and it is fascinating to read about and watch their development throughout the story. I thought in particular Tamia and Scott were brilliantly written characters, they both seemed to jump from the pages into real life. I also really loved Mirabelle as a character, she really grew on me. The Rose Petal Beach has many surprises, twists and turns that definitely kept me constantly on the edge of my seat, wanting to know more.

I won’t spoil it for all of you but this is a truly thrilling and gripping book. Throughout the story I kept repeating one word to myself: Wow. Dorothy has again excelled in her storytelling and I’m certain this one is going to be a big hit! I strongly urge you all to check it out!!! Fantastic.(less)

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Dec 20, 2012 Makefetch rated it 3 of 5 stars

Dorothy Koomson is a really good writer. I was drawn into this book within a few chapters and could not put it down.

I generally don't like POV novels and the fact that the various narrators in this story are unreliable was a bit frustrating but I enjoyed this book enough to seek out more of Koomson's books.

The pros for me are the previously mentioned readability of the work and the relatable characters. Koomston's descriptions of the internal struggles of a former professional woman who gives...more

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Oct 14, 2012 Beadyjan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: psychological-chillers

This was a very tense and quite difficult read in some parts.

Narrated in turn by several different women - 3 of them best friends.
Tamia kicks off the story as police enter her home and in front of her 2 young daughters arrest her husband for a crime so bad they won't even speak it aloud in front of the children, Tamia remains the main narrator and common thread throughout the book.

The second female narrator is Mirabelle, Tamias good friend, neighbour, running companion and workmate of her husban...more This was a very tense and quite difficult read in some parts.

Narrated in turn by several different women - 3 of them best friends.
Tamia kicks off the story as police enter her home and in front of her 2 young daughters arrest her husband for a crime so bad they won't even speak it aloud in front of the children, Tamia remains the main narrator and common thread throughout the book.

The second female narrator is Mirabelle, Tamias good friend, neighbour, running companion and workmate of her husband, deeply integrated into the storyline Mirabelle is the owner and subject of a painting the Rose Petal beach - from which this novel takes its name.

The 3rd friend in this female trio is Tamias best friend Beatrix, divorced, looking for love, lonely and vulnerable she is heavily reliant on her friendship with Tamia.

As the story jumps back and forth in time, introducing new characters all the time including Fleur, whose identity I will leave you to discover and the arrested husband Scott, who begins as the love of Tamias life until our perceptions of him change irrevocably when we discover just what it is he has been accused of and secret sides of his character are gradually revealed.

This is very much a who dunnit type mystery but its also very much about people, emotions and female friendship. Many of the things some of the characters did are beyond my comprehension and I got seriously frustrated with Tamia at times for her sheer ability to bury her head in the sand and put up with shit nobody I know would put up with!

Deeply flawed as most of the characters truly are they are mostly shaped by circumstances and the storyline grips you and won't let go. A few parts were a touch repetitive and I think I'd have preferred the story to be a little tighter, briefer and more concise.

If, like me you loved The Ice Cream Girls Do give the Rose Petal beach a try, its very different and very cleverly written and I think you'll have a hard time not to get wrapped up in this riveting and thought provoking and sometimes pretty distasteful story. Superb writing.(less)

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Sep 26, 2012 Kristerrn! rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

This was definitely not my typical type of book and because of this I was very sceptical of this book. However I found myself strangely not being able to put it down. The author definitely keeps you interested right up until the last page. I found myself always guessing what had happened and with all the twists and turns this book took I was constantly changing my mind. Seriously it was like whiplash city up in my head, no one was safe from my accusations (I was even accusing the kids at one poi...more

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Sep 10, 2012 BestChickLit.com rated it 5 of 5 stars

Hotly anticipated by all Dorothy Koomson fans, The Rose Petal Beach revolves around the fact that no matter how well you think you know someone, you’ll never truly know who they are and what they’re capable of. This is a dark story that tackles some tough issues, which are sure to push a few readers’ buttons, and depicts just how people react when they are pushed to the brink.

Narrated in true Koomson-style – jumping between the main characters in the past and the present – secrets and pieces of...more

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May 09, 2013 Kim rated it 3 of 5 stars

I have really mixed feelings about this book. The reason I picked it up is that Dorothy Koomson is one of those writers that I somehow got introduced to through a book I picked up at second-hand bookstore for next to nothing (I think it was Marshmallows for Breakfast). Then I saw this book in my prominently German-speaking town in the local bookstore in their English book section. I couldn't resist.

Dorothy falls under MY category of 'fluff' novelists. Nothing is too complicated, there's a lot o...more

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Apr 17, 2013 Kate rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Firstly I’d like to thank ED Public Relations for sending me this book to read and give an honest review. I’ve enjoyed books by this author in the past and was keen to see where her latest book would take me.

It all began with an arrest that raised many questions in my mind and by the time I discovered just what crime had been committed I was hooked!

Throughout the book there were snippets of the past which made me feel like I understood the characters better but it also made certain revelations h...more

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Apr 13, 2013 Rea Sinfield rated it 5 of 5 stars

I haven't read a book by Dorothy Koomson in a long time and after hearing so many great things about The Rose Petal Beach I couldn't wait to make a start on this book.

Tami is happily married to Scott with two beautiful girls, life seems to be flowing along nicely until one night there is a knock on the door, the police had arrived to arrest Scott. Tami is in total shock and has no idea why Scott has been arrested but this shock is nothing like the shock she dins herself in when she finds out wha...more

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Oct 25, 2012 Nikki rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, drama

Reviewed at JudgingCovers.co.uk

I expected to love this book before I even started it, simply because I love Dorothy Koomson and generally think she can do no wrong. I wasn’t disappointed. It’s been a long time since a book has grabbed me so much that I couldn’t put it down.

The Rose Petal Beach begins when Tamia Challey opens the door to a couple of police officers, who immediately walk in and arrest her husband, Scott. Scott has been accused of a horrible crime, and things soon get worse when Ta...more Reviewed at JudgingCovers.co.uk

I expected to love this book before I even started it, simply because I love Dorothy Koomson and generally think she can do no wrong. I wasn’t disappointed. It’s been a long time since a book has grabbed me so much that I couldn’t put it down.

The Rose Petal Beach begins when Tamia Challey opens the door to a couple of police officers, who immediately walk in and arrest her husband, Scott. Scott has been accused of a horrible crime, and things soon get worse when Tamia learns that the accuser is someone very close to her. They each have a very different story, and Tamia has no idea who to believe.

The story follows what happens after the arrest, but it’s difficult to say much more about the plot as there are so many unexpected twists and turns. Koomson is very skilled at exploring the thoughts, emotions and backstories of her characters in such a way that it really feels like you know them; there are lots of flashbacks to the past, and the first person narrative switches between a few different people. We regularly get to see two different points of view of the same conversation, which is very effective, and Tamia’s downward spiral as she reflects on how her life has fallen apart is particularly well-written.

I found it very difficult to know which characters are trustworthy, which really add to the mystery of the plot. It was clear that even the characters I really liked were capable of withholding the truth, and many of the revealed ‘secrets’ later turned out to be lies. With every twist I had a new idea of what the truth might be, but when it came to the climax of the story I was completely wrong. Not even close. In fact, I’d like to read the whole thing again just to look out for the hints!

It’s hard to talk about all the things I loved when I’m so conscious of not spoiling the plot, so I’ll just say this: if you like a twisty story with lots of heartache, secrets and lies, you need to buy this book. Plus everything else Dorothy Koomson has ever written. Because I love her.(less)

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Mar 06, 2013 Elizabeth rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have read several Dorothy Koomson books, and I have found them all fantastic. I am not sure I would say i enjoyed them, because she has a way of getting under the skin of her characters (even tough sometimes the narration is given by more than one character), and I have to say that I often feel I am on a similar emotional roller coaster. This is not always easy, especially in The Rose Petal Beach, which deals with some dark themes, and often uncomfortable doubts and emotions. It is certainly n...more

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Feb 13, 2013 Kathy rated it 3 of 5 stars

I liked it – but didn’t love it. The cover of the book and the title grabbed me instantly – but I just feel like I’ve been dragged along behind a horse and back again – like I’ve been battered and bruised along with Tamia. Just because the title has in it – rose petals and a beach, doesn’t mean it is all light and fun. Narrated in turn by different women, the story starts off as the police enter Tami’s home to arrest her husband in front of their two children. We are then taken along a complex t...more

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Oct 02, 2012 Hsiau Wei rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-in-2012

I have read all the books by Dorothy and have been waiting for her lastest book since the last one that i read and reviewed here. First and foremost, the cover of the book which are in grey color gives me a gloomy feeling and i know upfront that the storyline would definitely be on the heavy side. True enough, the book started with the arrest of Scott, being suspected to commit sexual harassment and the one who accused him is also Tami's best friend. From there on, many issues seems to unfold it...more I have read all the books by Dorothy and have been waiting for her lastest book since the last one that i read and reviewed here. First and foremost, the cover of the book which are in grey color gives me a gloomy feeling and i know upfront that the storyline would definitely be on the heavy side. True enough, the book started with the arrest of Scott, being suspected to commit sexual harassment and the one who accused him is also Tami's best friend. From there on, many issues seems to unfold itself which really gives a twist to the story. At any one point, i seems to have grasped the idea of what have actually transpired, the issues seems to be pulling me back again to where i have started off. Dorothy's brilliant writting have actually make me to chase for the true actual truth when every characters seems to have their own secrets waiting to be told.

It was a rather thick book; 449 pages for an ebook version and the story is focused on the aftermath of Mirabelle's death. Without spoiling the book storyline (as some people thinks that i revealed too much in my earlier email), there are a few of main characters; Tami, Scott (Tami's husband), Beatrix (Tami's best friend), Fleur (who is a surprised to me) and the final person (which i will not revealed here)who is holding the key of the truth. The chapters is being told first hand by one of the characters and i enjoyed reading their thoughts of the same thing that has happened. Many issues are being highlighted in this book; betrayal of trusts ( i guess this is the most talkabout issue in the whole books), the definition of matrimony in relation, and the inability to accept and denial issues. Despite being depicted as a weakling in the story, I like Tami's character alot as she showed humanitarian side of her when Bea was diagnosed with cancer. Some may disagreed saying that she is too nobel to do what she is doing given the situation that has happened, but i think that it took courage to be like her, doing the thing that she did for Bea.

Overall, i really enjoyed reading this book albeit the heavy reading that i have endured. I can hardly put down my reader reading this book. I was so engrossed into the book that i have to missed lunch just so i can finish the book!(less)

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Apr 26, 2013 Vera Neves rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013, emprestados

Há autores que nos marcam pela intensidade da sua escrita, pela forma como nos agarram em cada livro. Para mim, Dorothy Koomson é sinónimo de não precisar de ler a sinopse para querer ler os seus livros.
A capa deste A Praia das Pétalas de Rosa é soberba e, de uma forma mágica, adensa o mistério que envolve a própria lenda. Envolveu-me por completo.
As mais de quinhentas páginas foram percorridas num só dia, tal era a ânsia de conhecer o desfecho.
O facto de o final ser deveras surpreendente foi...more

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Mar 02, 2013 Rebecca tedder rated it 5 of 5 stars

Love, hate, lust, lies, betrayal, secrets, mystery, intrigue and MURDER!!!!

This book is everything I love about Dorothy Koomson and more.

Tamia's husband is accused of assault by one of her closest friends. He claims they had an affair. Was it an affair? Was it assault? What other secrets can this accusation be covering up?

He's the husband. Why would he lie? You trust your husband, right?

She's one of your best friends. Why would she lie? What could she gain from that sort of lie? Why would she tr...more

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May 11, 2013 Sarah is currently reading it · review of another edition

Shelves: giveaways-won, owned-hardcopy

24th April 2013
Received a free copy today as part of a first reads giveaway I am still reading another giveaway book at the moment but will read and review as soon as possible.
I have also got Kindle copies of "before the rose petal beach" & "beside the rose petal beach" as they are both free at the moment to read alongside my free giveaway book, such good timing to get all 3 books free. Thanks.

10th May
I have decided to read the ebook "before rose petal beach" first and currently half way th...more 24th April 2013
Received a free copy today as part of a first reads giveaway I am still reading another giveaway book at the moment but will read and review as soon as possible.
I have also got Kindle copies of "before the rose petal beach" & "beside the rose petal beach" as they are both free at the moment to read alongside my free giveaway book, such good timing to get all 3 books free. Thanks.

10th May
I have decided to read the ebook "before rose petal beach" first and currently half way through then I will start main book and read "beside rose petal beach" afterwards and review as a whole set. That way others will be able to see how ebooks encircle the main book and fit into story.

Review of "Before The Rose Petal Beach"
This is an ebook accompaniment to The Rose Petal Beach, it gives a brief introduction and then the first three chapters of the main book to give you a taster of how the main books starts to see if you like it before buying. I got this free don't think I'd want to pay for it as mainly the beginning of a book you would then be going on to buy having already read three chapters. Good way to see if you will enjoy the book though kind of like when an author puts the first chapter of their next book in the end of another book they have written to encourage you to go out and buy the next book.

13th May
Picked up "The Rose Petal Beach" after reading "Before The Rose Petal Beach" ebook the other day and skipped to the chapter the ebook left off at, hopefully the ebook was word for word and not a shortened version of the start of the book. I have read a few more chapters in though to be honest I'm not sure how many more as the chapters aren't numbered but just titled with the name of who that chapter is about as it goes to and fro between the main characters and some chapters are just a couple of pages before it skips back for seven or eight pages and then perhaps another short two or three page chunk from some other character. The to and fro approach to the writing is easy to follow compared to some others I have read in this style as it continues the story without too much jumping about and any trips down memory lane are so far clearly marked in italics stating at the start of a paragraph "x amount of years earlier" making them easy to follow. Still in the intro stages of this book finding out who is who and linking everyone together having just read the first big info drop and now getting the section that seems to be filling in possibly getting to that point?? Still reading so not 100% on that yet. Enjoying the story and style of writing so far and written in short chapters so easy to dip in and out of.
Ok just to clarify I was taking each named heading as a mini chapter in this book, because I read the start via the ebook "before the rose petal beach" and skipped to where that left off I have only just noticed the nicely illustrated rose petal numbered pages at the start of an actual chapter as I reach chapter 4, thus up to now each chapter has had several smaller sections with named titled headings.(less)

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Oct 14, 2012 Pooja Jeevagan rated it 4 of 5 stars

A beautiful read...though for me, the ending was a little let down...not that the dramatic novel doesn't give you a shocking climax...but just the way the climax was handled...it loses interest...it gets confusing...it just can't hold you for long...

Various parts and lines of the novels did strike a chord...I remember loving lines at three places so much that I couldn't wait to share it with someone or the world...and I just wonder why is Dorothy such an unknown name...

This would definitely have...more

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Sep 03, 2012 Katy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Dorothy Koomson's first book hooked me years ago by its beautiful cover. However once I began reading, I found that it was a cover for hideous things. For the most part. Koomson explores real life issues coupled with things that you think could never ever happen to you in your wildest dreams. Delicately and intricately she weaves her way through a person or persons lives until you're left just as raw as they are by the emotion conveyed through her words. The Rose Petal Beach is no exception. It'...more

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Mar 11, 2013 Jacquelyn Anderson rated it 5 of 5 stars

The title of this book refers to the painting illustrated on the cover. The story behind the painting is that a woman on an island searched for her lover until her feet bled. The drops of blood turned to rose petals on the beach.
The book explores what people will do in the search for, and name of love. The different loves illustrated are the love of a mother for her children, of partners for each other, and of ambitious and selfish people for status and self gratification.
Rose Petal Beach is im...more

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May 08, 2013 Amy Henefer added it

I thought this book was in one word amazing ! I literally could not put it down till the end and then when it ended i was really sad as it was such a gripping read. this story has so many twists and turns that you really are left guessing till the very end. the way that koomsom writes connects with the reader so that you feel like you are in the room with the characters. i really felt a mixture of emotions reading this book, sadness, anger, frustration with certain characters and enjoyment at ho...more

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Apr 13, 2013 Vanessa Santos rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit

I can’t remember the last time I was ever this divided by a book. I don’t think any has ever offered such a ride, filled with more ups and downs than a rollercoaster. Not in a good way.

I started off loving it. I couldn’t put it down, I was hooked. But then it took a turn and I had to force myself to keep reading. Then it would change again – on and on and on until the very last page. The middle was the worst for me, it was a big struggle to read even a single page. The characters, and their acti...more

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Apr 04, 2013 Anera rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ljubić, nedefinirano-dirljivo, my-ebooks

4* that leans to 5*

What I didn't like:
-when she introduced us to a new character; I enjoyed the 1/3-1/2 of the book but when the new ch came along I lost a little bit of interest
- I didn't like the last 1/4 of the book. The ending wasn't nicely made nor written. I find it could have ended in a different tone; I didn't like the way XX talked/explaned "things" to Tami, or the way the story regardimg Scott unfolded.

What I did like: I liked the characters, most of them I could imagine in real life....more

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Oct 21, 2012 Louise Graham rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is a love story with a difference, so much suspense and mystery on each page that you never expect what is coming next. I very much enjoyed the courtship of Tamia and Scott and the love they shared in the beginning.

This is the third book I have read by the Author and she has a real skill at keeping you guessing by wrapping you into the story. Always beautifully written with characters that you really grow very fond of.

I have mixed feelings for this book. I enjoyed elements of it very much,...more

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Sep 12, 2012 Leah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-2012, for-review

Dorothy Koomson is an author I adore. Her novels are so unique, that she’s pretty much set herself up in her own little genre of Chick Lit/Suspense novels. Her last couple of books have been beyond excellent, with The Ice Cream Girls even being made into a TV show for ITV, and she’s an author you just get so excited about. Her books are always so thrilling and full of suspense that it is so hard to put them down. So when I heard all about her new book, The Rose Petal Beach, I was sold, and it di...more Dorothy Koomson is an author I adore. Her novels are so unique, that she’s pretty much set herself up in her own little genre of Chick Lit/Suspense novels. Her last couple of books have been beyond excellent, with The Ice Cream Girls even being made into a TV show for ITV, and she’s an author you just get so excited about. Her books are always so thrilling and full of suspense that it is so hard to put them down. So when I heard all about her new book, The Rose Petal Beach, I was sold, and it did not disappoint.

Tamia Challey has been happily married to Scott for what seems like forever. They have two kids, a nice house in Brighton, and Tamia has two of the best friends she could ask for in Mirabelle and Beatrix. Until one night, the police enter the Challey household and arrest Scott for doing something so terrible Tamia can’t even believe he would have done it. However, when the Challey’s lives takes a tragic twist, and more questions come out than answers, and no one is what they seem, Tamia’s life turns upside down and she doesn’t know where to run, who to believe, or whether she even knows what she herself is doing.

The Rose Petal Beach is perhaps Koomson’s most ambitious effort to date, what with so many double lives being held in one novel, and so much to be unravelled and so many different voices, boy is it a stonker. I don’t even know where to start. The novel is so full of information, that not one of the 500 or so pages feel like too many, that feel like you can pause for breath as more and more revelations are unearthed and uncovered. It’s like a rollercoaster that keeps climbing up and up and up and up, and just as you think you’ve reached the top and are about to topple back to Earth, it just keeps climbing and twisting. I found the entire novel so absorbing and thrilling and it was so horrible to have to go to work and leave the book.

I found myself thinking one thing before thinking another and the characters were perhaps the most complex and confusing and all. I never really felt I got a handle on any of the characters bar perhaps Tamia. Even when Tamia was doubting herself about things, and when she made realisations she wasn’t entirely innocent in everything that occurs, I just felt nothing but sad for her. She didn’t deserve everything that happened and she wasn’t a bad person, really. I never got a handle on Tamia’s husband Scott, in fact I just didn’t really like him, at all. At first I felt sorry for him, but it didn’t last very long, really. Beatrix, again, I liked her at first, but soon? Not so much. Mirabelle was perhaps the most complex of all, and it was a shame that she wasn’t in the novel as much as I’d have liked. However, she does seem to reverberate around the entire novel. I found the characters to be so complex, but that only made the novel better as the novel just kept throwing new things at you.

I thought The Rose Petal Beach was an excellent novel. There’s bits of the novel I’d like to discuss in more detail, but that would perhaps ruin it a little bit for you and this is a novel you should go into practically blind. It was very well written, and it jumps from perspective to perspective and it pretty much proves to us that we can hear one thing from a person, but that doesn’t mean they’re telling you the truth and I found it fascinating how one particular narrative proved that point. Koomson is just a master storyteller. She is one of the best writers around and although I didn’t particularly feel The Rose Petal Beach was as good as The Ice Cream Girls, it was still fabulous and I very much recommend it.(less)

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Oct 14, 2012 Tina rated it 5 of 5 stars

I had not read a Dorothy Koomson book before. This is an amazing book. A psychological and emotional thriller which had you going in one direction then something would happen and it had you going in another direction. The narrative told by different characters was brilliant. The writing do descriptive and just flowed. I really can't recommend this book enough. The cover of the book is stunning too. I am now going to track down more of her books.

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Feb 11, 2013 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Oct 18, 2012 Christy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Just finished 'The Rose Petal Beach' in only 1.5 days. All I can say is 'WOW!!!' That was the best book I've ever read!!! It still gives me chills thinking about it. So beautifully written, and it even made me cry a bit. The cover is deceiving, as it looks like it'd be a sad, romance book, but it had many twists and turns, and kept me enthralled till the end.

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Oct 08, 2012 rubywednesday rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-adult

Underwhelming. The changing povs and unreliable narrators bugged me a little and it lacked the warmth and sensitivity of the previous two books of Koomsons I read. The plot meandered a little and the grittiness of the topics didn't quite gel with the rose petal beach story.

I didn't hate it, not at all, but it didn't meet my expectations or do that beautiful cover justice.

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About Dorothy Koomson

Hello, my name's Dorothy Koomson and I'll try to make this bit that's all about me as interesting as possible.
I wrote my first novel called There's A Thin Line Between Love And Hate when I was 13. I used to write a chapter every night then pass it around to my fellow convent school pupils every morning, and they seemed to love it.

I grew up in London and then grew up again in Leeds when I went to u...more

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“I'd spent so long trying to fit in,trying to be someone i wasn't,that i had no idea who i was any more.” — 4 people liked it

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