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Guilt Trip

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The voice on the wind.
The presence in her dreams.
The feelings she can’t control.

Sixteen-year-old Melissa has been diagnosed with Survivor Syndrome, the guilt of having escaped from a car crash in which her mother died.

However, when on holiday in the rugged moorlands of the English countryside, she begins to see and hear things she can’t explain. And so she must ask herself: are these also symptoms of her illness? Or are they signs that her mother is reaching out to her from beyond the grave?

A tense, psychological thriller. Can YOU spot the clues to the final shocking twist?

168 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 30, 2014

About the author

Maggy Farrell

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Maggy Farrell is an author and literature teacher with a fondness for craggy landscapes, lowering skies and turbulent seas. When not writing thrillers, her favourite pastime is to curl up on a stormy afternoon with a good book, a cup of Earl Grey and a packet of chocolate biscuits. Heaven...

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5 stars
17 (38%)
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17 (38%)
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7 (15%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
Profile Image for Sophie's Reading Corner .
890 reviews401 followers
January 2, 2015
4 Shocked As Hell Stars

Wow.. I don't know when was the last time I was stunned by a book that much. I've heard and read about twists, but I was completely taken back by this one. I didn't expect the twist and I was so surprised, staring like a fool, open mouthed and blinking, in case I lost something that didn't gave me the hints.



For a person who doesn't read thrillers very often, I have to admit that I liked it. I knew that it was a mystery and PNR kind of book, but the amount of suspense and the fact that it made me hold my breath at a couple of scenes, truly did it for me.

In this story there's Melissa, a teenage girl, who lost her mother a year ago in a car accident. The girl managed to escape from the car, but she was diagnosed with Survivor Syndrome.

She goes with her father on a trip at the english countryside. Meanwhile she begins to hear and see unexplainable things.. She meets Luke, who's twice her age, but there's a connection between them since the moment they meet.

I really don't want to say anything more, but there's a lot of tension and mystery and

OMG. THE TWIST. THE TWIST.



If you like suspense, mystery and thriller I think this will work for you. I would have rated this 3.5, but I'm giving it a 4 just because of the end! Good job !

Copy provided in exchange for an honest review by Lovers of Paranormal
Profile Image for Alice.
375 reviews78 followers
May 17, 2015

When I first read the plot of this book, I was both excited and skeptical about it.

Paranormal is not really one of my favorite genres and I'm really hesitant to read it. Sometimes I love it, sometimes I hate it.

On the other hand, I love a good thriller, so that's why I decided to read it nonetheless.

Melissa is a 16 year old girl, who has lost her mother in a fatal car accident. She is haunted by images of it and she feels guilty for being alive.
One day, she leaves for a holiday with her father and there she meets Luke. He's the owner of the Bed & Breakfast where Melissa and her father are staying at.
At the same time, Melissa starts to see and hear things that she can't explain and she questions her own sanity..Is she imagining it?? Is there someone who's asking for her help??

At the beginning, I was sucked in the story. I started reading it and without realizing it, I was already 60% far.

I loved the geographical setting. The description of the places were amazing and I could picture them in my head.

The age difference between Luke and Melissa was a bonus for me. I know that many readers mind the age gap between the two MCs, but I think you may accept it in the end.

There were parts I really liked and that's why I gave it three stars.

Unfortunately, the paranormal side of this book didn't work for me.


description

I didn't expect the twist at the end at all. It didn't work for me, but it may be just me.

PNR lovers will enjoy it, so pick this one if you want a thrilling and full of twists read!


Arc kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for R-Cee*Jay.
182 reviews
Read
January 10, 2015
Dnf at 60% . While I was enjoying the strange happenings in the rest of the story,
Profile Image for Melissa.
399 reviews644 followers
February 5, 2015

I received this book in exchange for an honest review Lovers of Paranormal

3.5
Color me surprised. Wow. This is the first time I actually liked a book from Read to Review and, Ok, I know that sounds harsh but it's the sad truth. You see, I haven't had luck with them. There is always some sort of problem be it insta-love, horrible and choppy dialogue, heroines TSTL, or just plain awful. So you could imagine my baffled surprise when I read this on a whim--and by whim I mean the MC had my name so I thought she deserved a chance-- and found myself slipping into the story.

There are few books that I've read that have actually surprised me and I mean out-of-the-blue where-did-that-twist-come-from surprise me and I have to hand it to for surprise me she did.

This was an intriguing read, disturbing and yet enthralling. Dark with a hint of creepy and it just worked marvelously.


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I did take some points off because there were some things lacking, not particularly story-wise, more like character-wise. I felt they weren't described enough to the point where I couldn't picture any one of them in my head.

I did love the setting. The limestone caves, the legends, the stories, the storms. Perfect background to the plot.

There was insta-love and quite an age difference that creeped me out a bit but as the story went on I think it worked well in this place setting. I actually think it worked perfectly with this set of characters.
Profile Image for JenacideByBibliophile.
223 reviews141 followers
November 18, 2015
Disclaimer: This book was sent to me by the author, Maggy Farrell, for an honest review.

Opinion: …I...
�.*sigh*……I have no words. I have been literally sitting in this chair, staring at my keyboard in complete shock. I feel completely blindsided by the ending, and it feels so FANTASTIC that I cannot stop smirking.

You know that feeling you get when you’re reading a story that has a very nice flow, likeable characters, and a plot that is kind of going down a path you think your understanding…but then it turns out that the path you’re taking is actually left and not right? Or that this new path is full of already pretty treacherous rocks and deathly water (as you start to find out) and then OUT OF NOWHERE� WHAM! A linebacker the size of Godzilla comes out of nowhere even fathomable, and just sends you reeling into the next hours of yester-WHAT THE F***-year. Yeah, that is kind of how you feel at the end of this book and it is pure GENIUS.

Melissa is sixteen years old and still dealing with the emotional effects of her mother’s death that occurred a year prior. While on vacation, as well as a business trip for her father’s geological photography work, Melissa starts to experience strange things while sightseeing and while residing in the local inn owned by an attractive thirty-five-year-old named Luke. Reoccurring déjà vu when she turns the faucet in the inns bathroom, a woman screaming "help me!", and soon after she starts to see visions of the past. Soon the inn owner, Luke, starts to take an interest in Melissa, to Melissa’s happiness. Only things start to turn ugly fast, and Melissa’s world starts to unravel.

I am not going to give away any HUGE spoilers (I couldn’t do that to you guys) but I think a few details from the book are going to be necessary for me to give an honest review, I’ll warn you ahead of time ;) . So as I had said above, there is some MAJOR plot twists in this book and the reader will be left completely stunned. I think that is grounds enough for you guys to try this book out, trust me. I rather enjoyed the read in general, it had a nice relaxing flow and tempo throughout and nothing was rushed or dragged on for too long. The author used a lot of asterisks in chapters that switched up the "scene" or what was going on, which definitely helped keep me enthralled. I found that it was a nice switch while reading the story because I wasn't getting overwhelmed with excessive wording or unnecessary ramblings. I would have liked to get a little bit more of a description of what the characters looked like, it would have helped me envision them better as well as have a deepened connection to them.
I have read some reviews from other readers, and noticed that nobody has really commented on the fact that there is a guy in his thirties going after a sixteen-year-old� � . If you’re a reader that feels very strongly and negatively about this kind of age difference, be warned that there is a bit of that going on in this book. Nothing is taken too far in the sexual sense, so try not to let that hold you back from trying out this great read. SORT OF A SPOILER: granted things about the age difference are explained a bit more with Billie becoming more known to Melissa and showing herself, but I was still a little disturbed about it during my read. I was hoping it wouldn’t take a REALLY terrible turn for Melissa, and I was happy that it didn’t. Although, I felt like it wasn’t fully clear if Melissa was actually Billie reincarnated or not. I am still wondering if maybe Melissa just sees/hears ghosts or if she really is a part of Billie…confusing. SPOILER OVER.

I am giving this book five stars purely because I love being shocked by endings (which I find is a hard thing to do for an author), the writing kept you interested and entertained, the story had a nice overall flow and consistency, and it made you feel actual emotions once the book was over. A FANTASTIC suspenseful and mind-bending read that will keep you thinking for the next few days.
Profile Image for Manon.
13 reviews7 followers
August 21, 2014
This book really surprised me.
When I picked it up I thought it wouldn't be that good.
But I really liked it.
Let's start with the cover.
I really like it's simple but it gives that mysterious edge to it.
I'm really happy that it isn't an other book with a girl on the cover.
And now on to the story
The Story begins really good, it kept my attention and I was immediately sucked into the story.
What happened to Melissa is very mysterious.
You get questions about why she did what she did and you just keep reading because you want to know what happens.
And then there is Luke, the mysterious owner of the pub/hotel.
He was at times a little bit confusing with his feelings.
The book was a Mystery from begin to end
It really had you interested from begin to end.
I didn't expect the ending but liked it.
It's something different.
The writing style was very pleasant
I really liked the way the book was written.
The book was fast paced.
It's a book I will recommend to my friends.
I can't wait to read an other book by !
Profile Image for Jacek Slay.
39 reviews34 followers
February 4, 2015
Wow. Just... wow.

I've been waiting for this kind of book and I realized that soon enough. It had everything I craved for. A teenage girl. A suspense. A dark mystery. Plot twists.

Plot twists indeed. Though I was able to foresee some of the events - it wasn't really hard at some point - at the same time, I had completely fallen for the trap set on me. That's how you make a good story - giving away little pieces but at the same time, not revealing the bigger picture (or the *other* picture) until the very end. And the final twist here is shocking indeed. Totally worth all the time spent reading it.

Maggy Farrell creates the characters exactly the way we want to see them. And, I have to admit, those characters have enough "meat" on themselves. Those aren't some one-dimensional paper figurines you can see in a lot of books. The characters here live.

Of course the book also had its weak parts. Melissa tends to be overdescriptive in a totally bad way. I understand it's because of first person narrative but seriously, nobody talks like that, let alone a 16-year-old girl.

I'm simply amazed by this book. And I want more. More, more, more. Totally justified 5 stars.
Profile Image for Virginie (chouettblog).
232 reviews114 followers
January 1, 2015
@maggyfarrell
@read_women
#guilttrip

I received this book in exchange for an honest review and would like to thank the author for giving me the opportunity to read her work.

Let me say first of all that I am not a great fan of mystery novels, as I tend to usually figure out the ending very early on in the plot.

Well, I did think I had it all figured out this time round as well. Oh my God was I wrong!!

This has to be one of the best mystery novel I have read in a long time!!

There are a few elements in the piece that had me do a double take, like the apparent unhealthy relationship between Luke and Melissa as an example, but in the end, if I thought that was twisted well...the ending blew me away and unease I had with the Luke/Melissa relationship just became unimportant in the scheme of things.

Telling you anything more will just give it away, so this will be it for my review.

Needless to say that I was pleasantly surprised!!
Profile Image for BostonTerrierLuv.
110 reviews2 followers
August 14, 2015
Wow! What?! Oh. My. God. Really?!

I think this accurately describes my reaction right now:


This book! I wasn't even fully sure of what to expect going in but I'm glad I let myself be consumed by this story. I stayed up late into the a.m. to finish it and it killed me to not be able to write the review at that time but I was so tired and there were so many feels that I was still reeling from. I've not read anything like this book - ever - and I've read tons of books! The scenery descriptions were beautiful and I really do hope I get to see anything remotely close to what was in the book one day. The characters felt real and solid, right down to the some of the whiney teenage tendencies of Melissa. Hopefully more people pick this book up and give it a try, it's worth it for sure! I will look forward to more books by this author in the future!
Profile Image for Aly.
1,887 reviews63 followers
January 13, 2015
We start off the book in a sad way and learn that Melissa has lost her mother. She has Survivor Syndrome. Melissa and her father are trying to have a life and live through the grief of losing a mom and a wife. Melissa meets Luke and she thinks she is in love. This book has a surprise ending. I did not expect how things played out in the end. If you like to not be able to guess what the author has in store at the end of the book read this one. I love guessing and being wrong! What I great story! *I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
128 reviews
December 22, 2014
Ok. Wow! Such an interesting read. An ending I was so not expecting. A nice twist on ghosts and possession. This is a great debut for this author. The characters were well developed and the story never lagged. it just kept right on going. The descriptive ability of the author is marvelous. I felt like I was there. It had a couple parts that actually made me feel creeped out just like the character. Great read. But the ending will surprise you. I'll be looking for more by this author.
Profile Image for Rachelann.
153 reviews12 followers
December 17, 2014
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

**Melissa is a 16 year old girl, who seems sweet and bright. She is haunted by her past, and because of that she sometimes has trouble focusing on the present. Her mind repeatedly plays her mother's horrific car accident every time she lays down to sleep. Her father ends up whisking her away for a small "vacation". She is surrounded by amazing geographical beauty, and through-out most of the story Melissa's father is consumed with taking pictures while sightseeing.
Melissa brightens when meeting a man named Luke. They share a connection that she has never felt before. He understands her. His presence calms her, but she can't shake the feeling that her mother is trying to talk to her from the grave. Melissa and Luke's relationship sends her into a whirlwind of an adventure that will leave her breathless... literally.**

I will start off by saying that I originally planned on giving this book 2 stars. I do not give out 4-5 stars easily. I have to absolutely love the book for that to happen. I will start off with the PROS to this story.
~ GEOGRAPHICAL IMAGERY: I loved the descriptions of the caves, the rush of the water, the nippy air and the landscape throughout the novel. When I can picture things in my head as I read them it's an added bonus. Bravo!
~ TWISTS: I won't go into description, but if you want a novel with VERY unexpected twists and turns... this storyline is filled with them. I was caught by complete and utter surprise not once, but twice! And that does NOT happen often. The ending caught me extremely off guard. It was brilliant. VERY WELL DONE! :)
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CONS:
� CHARACTERS: The imagery towards the characters was NOT enough. I did not clearly know what they looked like, so I had to make something up. I like to know what and who I'm reading about...
� FAST READ: When I say fast read, I don't mean that the story was bad because it's short. I'm saying... The writing was way too fast. Everything jumped and moved so quickly. It didn't flow right, and not enough was described. The writing was too simple and plain. I wasn't able to absorb myself in the story as much as I would have liked to because of that.
� AGE DIFFERENCE: It bothered me... The difference between Melissa's and Luke's ages... But... I got used to it, and then once the ending was revealed I accepted it entirely. It'll make sense I promise.
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OVERALL:
I ended up giving the novel 3 stars specifically because of the book's ending. If the ending had been any different it would of received 2 stars. I am still in shock from what happened. So I applaud the author for twisting my brain and shattering it. ;-) Despite the lower rating I did like the book! I liked the idea of it more than anything. It was a good and suspenseful plot!

I will say that the fast pace and jumping quickly into things in the storyline made more sense once the ending was revealed... If that makes sense. It made the characters flow better. I guess you will just have to read it and find out! Happy reading! :-)
Profile Image for Brittain *Needs a Nap and a Drink*.
373 reviews487 followers
December 18, 2014
I received this book in exchange for an honest review through Lovers of Paranormal.

Can I just say...Mind.Freaking.Blown.

I've been severely disappointed recently in my R2R books. Hey, it happens sometimes. This was a rare and wonderful gem though and it left me speechless. It actually pulled me away from a book that I had been devouring and that's pretty difficult, especially for a book I got for a review.

Guilt Trip is the story of a girl, Melissa, who is on a trip with her father a year after the death of her mother. Melissa is struggling to cope, needing to take prescription pills to help stave off the hallucinations and nightmares that plague her. This trip to the English moorlands is for her father though, a successful geology photographer who is not coping well either. But when Melissa starts to recall memories that are not her own, she is left to wonder if she is slowly loosing her mind or if there is something otherworldly going on. Adding to the chaos is the stoic Luke, the landlord of the inn who is so caring and thoughtful.

This book was a perfect psychological thriller. Nothing is really as it seems but it is impossible to not take sides from the very beginning. Melissa is a victim from the very beginning, having to hide her symptoms from her emotionally wrung out father and seeking comfort from a (much older) man that she hardly knows. It is easy to sympathize with her and when everything around her starts to go awry, as a reader, you end up worrying about her. The walls close in around her and you can understand her rationale behind all of her actions. That's always the most important part of the story for me. I have to understand the character's motivations and it was really well done here.

Go out and get this book. Seriously.

Full review at
308 reviews7 followers
January 6, 2015
Wow, just wow. There are no words after finishing this book. I am just in absolute shock. I don’t want to give anything away. I cannot give anything away. So this will be a little shorter than my normal reviews but here goes.

Guilt Trip is the story of Melissa, a young girl suffering from Survior Syndrome. Surviving the car accident that left her mother dead, Melissa is trying to put her life back together. Being there for her father, who lost the love of his life while at the same time trying to deal with her own feelings of guilt for surviving when her mother did. On holiday with her father, she meets Luke, the owner of tavern they are staying at and instantly feels a connection to him. They have met before, somehow, someway. Even though he is twice her age and she has never been to his town before - she knows that there is some kind of connect and she knows that Luke feels it also. Maybe its this newfound connection but all of the sudden Melissa is seeing and hearing things, experiencing déjà vu. Is it her overactive imagination? Is it her mom? Whatever it is something is trying to reach out to her…�

Guilt Trip is a tightly written, exquisitely suspenseful book that just grabs you and does not let up. You are instantly drawn into Melissa’s story feeling this connection with her right away. You want to know where all of this is leading. So much so that I found myself tearing through this and had to constantly remind myself to slow down and enjoy it. And there really is so much to enjoy. Farrell does this amazing job of making the simple creepy. Her writing is so descriptive that you are instantly and deeply enmeshed in each scene. The fears, desires, anger and sadness are so palpable. Even when you get to the end you want to just start this right over again so that you can continue in this world (even when you are totally disturbed by it!). I cannot wait to read more from this author.
Profile Image for Savannah.
65 reviews15 followers
August 8, 2016
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. In no way does this effect either my review or my rating.

This is not my usual kind of book. I pricked it because it wasn't too long and for some reason it just pulled me in. And I must say, I am quite pleased that it did. This book was absolutely amazing!

Synopsis: Sixteen year old Melissa and her father take a much needed father/daughter trip nearly a year after the drowning death of Melissa's mother. While on the trip, which doubles as a work trip for her photographer father, Melissa meets and falls for the much Luke, proprietor of The Fox And Hound, a hotel with a restaurant and bar. Here, Melissa is haunted by visions and déjà vu while also trying to contend with the nightly nightmares about the crash that spared her but caused her mother to drown, her stuck seatbelt trapping her inside her car as Melissa watches helplessly.

Now, I am usually pretty good with guessing how books are going to turn out. About halfway through I can pretty much guess who's really a bad guy and who's really a good guy. But with this one, I was totally and completely shocked! I had no idea!

When Melissa found out about Luke's long dead girlfriend, I knew that the story was about to get really good. As Melissa sat in her room, reading Billie's diary (the dead girlfriend) I sat curled up in my bed, greedily taking in all of the words that Melissa herself was also reading.

I must tell you that I got into trouble at work a time or two with this book. I just couldn't bring myself to put it down!

I normally would list the pros and cons of the book but to be perfectly honest, I can't think of any cons! All I can think of to say Kshatriyas you have to read this book! Now! I promise, you won't regret it!
Profile Image for Ethel Lewis.
Author13 books20 followers
October 1, 2014

"Guilt Trip" by Maggy Farrell
5 STAR

Very suspenseful atmospheric mystery. Full of twists and turns from the very first page until the last.
I was surprised to find "Guilt Trip" was Ms. Farrell's debut novel. Very well written, and with characters
so life-like and real.
Poor Melissa, just sixteen years old, and suffering with 'survivors' guilt' after surviving the accident in which her mom died.
Her dad - suffering from the tragic loss in his own way (sometimes putting his needs before those of his daughter.)
Luke - (works and lives at Bed & Breakfast where Melissa and her dad vacation), and soon becomes a major love interest for Melissa.
Then the voices, the horrific nightmares, the spooky caves . . .
Ms. Farrell has woven a tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat, flipping pages to see what lies ahead. And the ending 'will blow you away'.
I would highly recommend this book to all who love suspense with a paranormal aspect.
Looking forward to reading more from this talented author.
'I received a copy of the e-book from the author in exchange for an honest review.'
Profile Image for Mary Chin.
682 reviews47 followers
August 7, 2014
This book, honestly, surprised me. When I read this book, I actually did not expect this to be something other than paranormal. To say that this book has a veryvery surprising turn of events is an understatement. I love the main character, Melissa. She resembled someone who was so strong, having survived an accident, and always having to deal with the fact that she's alive, when her mother died. I love this book, and Farrell seems like a good writer. The story line flowed perfectly and smoothly, such that I would easily get lost in the book. Though, I still don't know what to make of the ending. HAHA it kinda give me chills. But yeah, this book is AWEEESOME.
Profile Image for Jenn.
711 reviews42 followers
January 13, 2015
I received this book for free from LoP in exchange for an honest review. First-wow. I mean wow, I so never expected what actually happened. I kind of guessed that Melissa was being haunted by Luke's dead girlfriend and I could tell he was possessive and controlling as I got further along in the book but as for him actually killing Billie on purpose that was a surprise. What was an even bigger surprise was at the end. I so can't believe Melissa was so mean as to kill her mother band then just move on, what a twist! I gave 4 stars only because it was written in first person but the story itself was extremely well thought of and put together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Kara Karnatzki.
5 reviews16 followers
February 26, 2015
Well-written. An engaging lead character, who grew through the book. There was something creepily unsettling about the age-gap romance. Evocative sense of place. Could have upped the spooky factor maybe, to increase plot tension, but nethertheless an enjoyable read, with some twists and turns.
Profile Image for Jenny.
167 reviews3 followers
February 16, 2015
I received this book in exchange for an honest review (LoP or Lovers of Paranormal).

What I really enjoyed about the book was the different plot twists that the author incorporated. Some of them were completely unpredictable, came out of no where but the author did a great job with intertwining them with various events that happened in the book. The writing was descriptive and very easy to follow.

I didn't give this story five stars because I personally didn't like any of the characters. The main character, Melissa, was as descriptive as she could be. She was a very dull teenager, which is understandable since she her mom just died. There wasn't anything about her that made me drawn to her. During the whole book, it was confusing about her age since the author doesn't tell you Melissa's age until 70% into the story. I thought if the main character would have been more appealing, that would have made the ending more shocking and given readers more of an uneasy feeling. I also thought some of the relationships were odd and were not appealing but I won't get into that because there are reasons why some relationships are the way they are that lead up to the climax. I also thought this book was very slow moving. I fell asleep many times while reading this story, the book gets interesting at the 74% mark. The important events that happen in the story are slow. They literally inform the reader, that's it. At times I wasn't sure if some parts were important because they seemed so monotonous. I didn't realize until later that some conversations/events were actually significant in the story itself.

Overall, I would recommend this book if you're in the mood for a horror. I would like to thank Ms. Farrell for sharing her work with me.
Profile Image for Levian.
446 reviews2 followers
September 14, 2014
Melissa had been hearing voices and seeing presence in her dreams ever since the car crash. In the car crash, her mother died while she survived. the doctor said she was diagnosed with Survivor Syndrome, feeling guilty to have escaped a terrible accident. she went on a trip with her father, to the countryside, where her father was one of the judges for a photography competition. during the trip, they went to various sightseeing spot, where she found herself starting to see and hear things that she cannot explain. she started to wonder if these were the symptoms of her illness, or some supernatural occurrence.

I received a free e-book from the author in exchange for an honest review. the book started out being quite captivating, dropping eerie hints every now and then, creating one spooky atmosphere after another. but as I progressed through the pages, the scenes started to feel repetitive and dragged, like we should be revealed more secrets and mysteries by now. during the last quarter of the book, the truth was finally revealed, though still very slowly. as drowsy as I was at this point, I was glad that the story finally moved forward. as interested as I was towards the horror genre, it was a pity that the story moved in a pace too slow to my liking. but in general, I did enjoy the whole idea. it was most satisfying when the truth of each deaths was finally revealed.

my link:
Profile Image for Ramona Plant.
752 reviews23 followers
November 27, 2014
I am seriously torn about this book. It is very well written, great plot and overall a good pace for the story line, but I am just not a fan of the main character, Melissa. The entire story is pretty much about her and Luke, with others like her father being only part of the story. I also feel a bit betrayed about it all. Melissa is a fairly weak character, or so it seems, and you can't help it but feel for her. But her being a 16 year old kid and Luke being in his 30s, made me a tad uncomfortable about parts of the story. It makes sense at the end but still it gave me an unease while reading the book.

Maggy is an excellent writer and really weaves a web around you. Only about two thirds into the book gives she enough clues to allow you to guess most of the twist, but not all. The twist is excellent but that is where I felt betrayed. We go from a weak female character who seems to deserve our sympathy, to a person I don't care for at all.

But overall, this is an excellent book. Well written, well developed and the two main characters, well Melissa more so then Luke, very well described. My only issue, is the twist that reveals who Melissa really is, but without that twist this book would not be as good as it was. Hence my being torn about it. I still recommend this for a good read.

I have received this book from the author for an honest review. (LoP, Lovers of Paranormal)
Profile Image for Sneha Tripathi.
116 reviews16 followers
December 22, 2014
Wow; that ending!!!
Melissa in the car with her mom when they met with an accident. Her mom doesn't make it and Melissa is diagnosed with survivor syndrome. It almost 1 year and she still has the nightmare involving the accident. Her parents were the perfect couple and she is their miracle baby. And, than her mom leaves them to mend for themselves. Her dad tags her along to a trip including his work and there she meets Luke. Luke is a near to her father age but their is something between them that she can't explain. I was so not into it until the entry of other entity came into picture and i was thinking maybe this is a story of true love, boy oh boy, i was so wrong. She unearths many secrets and along with that came the revenge for the life lost.
The story of survival of the fittest, fight to exist, so much geology information and along with the basic instinct of animals that being human we still execute almost on the daily basis. It was that kind of book that makes you look into yourself and see how clear your soul is and what you would have done in that situation.

Read this book, it's filled with so many twist and turns that are so not expected. And the ending, it was so full of surprise. Not once i looked at it from that perspective and could have understood the psyche behind it until i had read the ending.
I really liked it but didn't feel that amazed by the entire story; also except for the ending nothing blew me away as such.
Profile Image for Louise.
86 reviews
January 6, 2015
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review and for that I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity.

I really enjoyed reading this book, in fact I read it in two sittings. It isn't the kind of book I would normally pick out but when I was given the opportunity to review it I was instantly taken in by it. The book was well written with only one minor editing error that I noticed which had obviously been missed in proof reading. It was nothing major but I did have to read the sentence twice just to be sure I picked up what it should have said correctly.

The story has a great plot and moves along at a fairly decent pace and did not give away too many hints about the ending as the story went on but I cannot honestly say I was surprised by the twist at the end. I found the book fairly predictable, however this did not hinder my enjoyment of the story at all.

I would have loved to read more about some of the other characters in the book. The story was dominated by Melissa and Luke with very little input from the other characters. The age difference between Melissa and Luke was a little creepy but it did become relevant in the end.

I would definitely read more from this author and I would certainly recommend this book.
Profile Image for Suzanne.
1,148 reviews25 followers
December 16, 2014
I received this book in exchange for an honest review through Lovers of Paranormal.

This book was a mystery from the beginning to the huge twist at the end that I definitely didn't see coming! I didn't really care for Melissa at first and the age difference between her and Luke kinda put me off but it all made sense at the end.

Melissa is sixteen and suffering from survivor syndrome after losing her mom in a car accident that she was part of. Her dad thinks a getaway to a small country inn in England where they can visit and photograph the geological sites will help them both. They meet Luke who runs the Inn where they're staying and he and Melissa seem to have an immediate connection. Melissa starts seeing things that aren’t there, and hearing things that she really shouldn’t and she thinks it may be her mother or she is losing her mind.

There are lots of twists and turns and you may think you have it all figured out and then something even more strange happens that keeps you guessing.
Profile Image for Kate Wrath.
Author12 books103 followers
August 21, 2014
This book was very good. It was well-written, and the author did a lot of crafty things with the way she told the story. I was compelled the whole way through, and wanted to keep reading. (Some nights I was even up late because I didn't want to put it down.) There were a lot of interesting twists and turns, and I enjoyed the setup of characters and all their little complexities. I loved the setting-- it definitely set the tone for the novel and pulled me in so that I felt like I was there with Melissa in the English countryside. The only thing that I didn't like about this book was the ending, which simply didn't work for me. Now, I want to say, that this could just be me. Maybe it will work for other people, so you shouldn't be put off by me saying this. I honestly just couldn't get on board with the ending. Other than that, I thought this was a great book. It is definitely high-quality writing, and Maggy Farrell is an author worth looking out for!
10 reviews2 followers
January 19, 2015
I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the Lovers of Paranormal group on ŷ.

The plot: Melissa is haunted by her past. Survivor's syndrome, her psychiatrist calls it. She was the survivor of a car wreck that killed her mother one year ago. Now, she and her father are taking a much needed vacation and the voices begin. Is she losing it or is she truly being haunted?

Wow. Just wow. If you're looking for an easy read and like roller coasters, this book is for you. Guilt Trip has it all: drama, romance, suspense, thrills, and chills. Maggy Farrell takes you for a ride from start to finish. I read this book in one day simply because I couldn't put it down. The story is fast-paced and easy to read. And I must say, I literally sat with my mouth hanging open at the end.

A fantastic book!
Profile Image for Samantha Clysdale.
285 reviews14 followers
January 23, 2015
I received this book in exchange for an honest review All About YA.


I think the main dislike and downside of the ages. Melissa being 16 years old and Luke being 30 years old. Made me go hold on wait a minute. It could be me but when a 16 year old is hitting on a 30 year old and her dad does not notice makes me question the whole story. Lucky for us its just a story and not a court case I am reading in the news.Also underage drinking and drunkenness.


Lets get on to the good things I liked about the story. I enjoyed the caves and the dreams about her mother. I felt the author was spot on about the dreams. I also really like the ending.


Be warn I would not call this book a YA book. I recommend it to be read by 17 and older.
Profile Image for Keep Calm Novel On.
469 reviews70 followers
August 5, 2014
**I received a copy of the ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.**

I thought the book would be predicable but I was totally surprised.
Having survived the car crash that took her mother's life, Melissa has been diagnosed with 'survivor syndrome'.
Melissa and her father go on a vacation several months after her mother's passing. She has an instant connection to the owner of the pub/bed and breakfast. Is Luke her knight in shining armour? She begins to see and hear 'things'. What unravels will shock you. I understand the title of the book now--Guilt Trip.
Read it and discover for yourself.
Would I recommend this read? Yes.
Profile Image for Jacqueline.
22 reviews5 followers
July 10, 2014
This book starts out sweet. Towards the middle it starts to get mysterious. This book is definitely filled with twist and turns that you do not see coming. The ending is such a SURPRISE. Definitely worth reading. Such an enjoyable book.
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