The Valentine

Twisty and turny

Tamara has it all - a loving husband, a caring sister, and a great home. However, she keeps seeing someone outside her window watching. Is it in her head or is there actually danger? As Tamara's world falls down around who, who can she trust?

This book kept me guessing and I really enjoyed it!

I thoroughly enjoyed The Valentine! This book is an edge-of-your-seat thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end. Maria's use of multiple perspectives adds a rich layer to the story, providing depth and making it more engaging and relatable.

Packed with twists and turns that constantly surprised me, the fast-paced plot ensured there was never a dull moment. It's one of those gripping reads that you just can't put down.

Maria's writing never ceases to amaze me. Her books are a testament to her incredible talent and storytelling prowess.

I really enjoyed this story, I didn't see the end coming and that's what makes it such an exciting read. Well written characters and twist after twist. This was my first read by this author but she is now a firm favourite. I can't wait to read all her others books. Excellent!

Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Valentine by Maria Frankland

She did it again.
Somewhere along the way, Maria quietly became one of my favorite authors and now I just have to accept that every time I open one of her books, I’m volunteering to be emotionally dragged through it. She has this infuriating talent for turning words into sentences into stories that don’t just exist — they pull you in whether you like it or not. I’m never just reading. I’m hovering. Lurking. Standing in the corner like a shadow over every character’s shoulder, watching their lives implode in real time.

And the worst part? There’s always a little piece of me in there. In every story. In every bad decision, every silence that screams, every moment where you want to yell, cry, throw something, or kick someone directly in the emotional shins. This book was no exception.

The same questions kept circling my brain like vultures:
How far would you go to protect what you think you deserve?
How well do you really know your neighbors? Your siblings? Your partner? Yourself?
None of these questions are new — but somehow Maria asks them in a way that still gets under your skin. Again.

Was the outcome unexpected? Not really. And honestly? I don’t care. Because it’s not about shock value — it’s about the slow, creeping unraveling. Watching every secret crawl out into the open. Watching everyone lie, hide, justify, and self-destruct while pretending they’re doing the right thing. I was watching everyone. And I was right there with them.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — four I’m-watching-you stars.

This one’s for the non–Valentine’s Day believers. For the people who believe in the wrong kind of love. For those who’d rather spend the day snuggled on the couch with their emotional support book (or plant, or animal, or existential dread — whatever works). If you enjoy stories where shiny hearts don’t save anyone and love doesn’t fix a damn thing but instead ruins everything it touches… this is absolutely a must-read.

Dark. Twisty. Uncomfortable. And painfully good.