Three Shocking Stories: Scoundrel, Shameless, Sins & Secrets by Noreen J. Byrne is a book that has three compelling stories with well-developed characters and strong themes. These stories explore themes of love, lust, family, friendship, betrayal, sexual abuse, revenge, secrets, and more. The first story, Scoundrel, is about a young girl who has lived under the strict protection of her home in Chelsea. Susan is not an outgoing and adventurous kind of girl, but she falls madly in love with a man who has an uncanny ability to take advantage of women. Ronny Beltram is unaware of what is headed his way, and this time, he will be reaping what he sows. The second story explores the relationship between two teens and their stepfather and the consequences on their lives. The third story features Sandra, a girl with an insatiable appetite for sex, who entertains many men in the hope of finding the right man to keep her sexually happy.

These stories are gripping and the author has a unique gift for writing characters that are real and psychologically and emotionally rich. I enjoyed the way the female characters in these stories are developed and how the author is able to make their humanity genuine, writing flaws into them that make these characters convincing and relatable. Three Shocking Stories is intelligently plotted and boldly written. The author crafts scenes that are focused and creates vivid images in the minds of readers. An example is an encounter between Sandra and the soldiers who take advantage of her. The scene is graphic and boldly written. Noreen J. Byrne’s stories feature great writing, good plotting, and characters taken from society that readers are familiar with. These stories are hugely entertaining.

Three Shocking Stories: Scoundrel, Shameless, Sins & Secrets by Noreen J. Byrne is a collection of three novels that will make you shiver with excitement. Scoundrel follows the story of Ronny Beltram. He is a seasoned con-man who preys on women. However, he is not ready for what is about to happen when his wife and her two neighbor friends hatch a plan to get back at him. Shameless is a romantic comedy that follows the life of pretty Sandra. A musician by profession, everything in her life is perfect except for her love life. She is on the lookout for someone who will complement her in bed, but the man she comes across gives her a lot more than she bargained for. Sins and Sinners is the story of siblings Lia and Charlie, who decide to go against their stepfather and stop living a life of crime. Now out on the streets, they have no idea how they will survive. However, is it worth living on the streets?

Three Shocking Stories is an interesting collection of stories. Lia and Charlie’s story is heart-wrenching. The two of them have to grow up fast, and they have to be mature to face the reality they are living. Sandra's story is feisty, fun, and steamy. She is definitely not prepared for what is coming next, yet she embraces it with open arms. However, my favorite is Scoundrel. Ronny’s story is funny, sassy, and a bucketful of fun. Ronny is a sick, twisted man, but the women in his neighborhood show him who’s the boss in this game Sue, Pam, and the rest of the women taught him a lesson. The narrative is perfect for each story. Each story is fast-paced and written to entertain. The dialogues are fun, the characters are fully developed, and each story is fluid. It is an excellent collection to bundle up with and enjoy on a rainy night.