BOOK REVIEW: First There Was Silence by Leonie Haubrich

2/5 Stars

Blurb: 

Nele finally had her life back on track. After her first marriage crumbled, she didn’t know if she’d ever be able to recover—until she met Andreas.

Their marriage and the birth of Lotta had been a small miracle. But when the baby, now nine months old, mysteriously disappears, Nele’s world turns dark again. Suspicion immediately falls on her—but Detective Sven Jansen suspects that there’s more to the story, especially when Nele’s long-estranged sister suddenly reappears and begins talking about their past.

Desperate to retrieve her missing daughter, Nele finds herself on the run. With her world crashing down around her, she combats the growing distrust from those closest to her, along with her own self-doubt, to find out what happened to Lotta. But can she or Detective Jansen uncover the truth? Or will Nele’s worst nightmare become a reality for a second time?

Review: 

The beginning of the book started out well. I was curious to know who had kidnapped the baby and why exactly. However, I very quickly guessed who the kidnapper was and I was right. I knew it before the character did which meant there was never an element of surprise. I also had no idea why some chapters were focused on the police officers on the case. I wondered if it was because they would become important to the story but nope, they were just there.

I didn't realise when I started the book that is had been translated as the original book was German. I did have suspicions due to the characters names but it wasn't till I read other reviews that I realised. (I obviously didn't look at the cover hard enough because it clearly states so). I do think certain things may have been lost in translation. It was mostly fine but every now and then something would read a little weird but nothing major.

Overall, I didn't really enjoy the book. I liked the premise of the story but it just didn't really do it for me. Most likely because I knew who the kidnapper was early on, I lost interest.

BOOK REVIEW: The Last Dreamer by Barbara Solomon Josselsohn

2/5 Stars

Blurb:

Iliana Passing—wife, mother, and former acclaimed journalist—gave up her career to start a family. Almost fifteen years later, despite how much she loves her husband and kids, she can’t help wondering how she ended up with a life spent carpooling and running errands.

Ready to get back into the journalism game, Iliana searches for an exciting lead. When she discovers that Jeff Downs, the heartthrob star of an old TV show and her girlhood crush, now owns a nearby textile company, she thinks she’s found her story: teen celebrity and its aftermath. But as Iliana gets to know Jeff, the two grow closer than she ever could’ve imagined. Now that her teenage dream has walked into her present-day reality, how far will she go to entertain an old fantasy?

Review: 

Illiana is a former writer for the Business Times who gets the chance to interview an old pop heart throb. On the surface, I liked the idea of this book, but it didn't quite live up to my expectations. Illiana is married, and I really didn't like her husband. The relationship was all about him and he was very selfish - I thought that this would open up the window for a romance with Jeff, the old pop star. However, this didn't happen either, and as it turns out, he wasn't very nice either. I think the fact that I didn't particularly like any of the characters was my problem. Even Illiana herself I didn't really connect with. It was readable, but not something I'd recommend.

Dreams

I went back to work on Monday after having the full Christmas period off. A whole week dedicated to reading, writing and social media. I can't even tell you how good it was to have that time to dedicate to all of it, and I managed to finish the YA novel I'd been working on. (If you're on Wattpad, it's called Dorm Room.)

My job is pretty new. I've been there about a month, and let me tell you, in the grand scheme of things, I've won the lottery with this job. Going back after time off is always hard in a job, but Monday, my motivation was just down. I didn't want to be there, because I wanted to work on my writing.

I started writing, seriously, when I realised that I didn't have a hobby. That thought seemed wrong to me, and I started thinking about what I could do as my hobby. What do I enjoy, what am I good at? I've always been a storyteller as such, a writer even. I'd started books before, for years, but I'd never get past the first chapter or so. In 2014, something took over me, and I decided it was now or never. Then I wrote Synergy.

I don't know whether it works the same for everybody, but finishing my first novel gave me the writing bug. I could write a book, I had, and I would do it again. The ideas were flowing, and suddenly I had multiple book ideas and not enough time to write them. Even now, I'll be somewhere thinking about something irrelevant, and bam - a book idea.

I've dedicated so much time to writing, and promoting, and everything that comes with trying to be an author. I've burned myself out at times. Still, I know now more than ever that this isn't a hobby anymore. This is something that I really want to do. I dream about being able to do it for a living, to not have to go back to working for somebody else, even though I'm in a great job. Why else would I not want to go back to a great job? The only reason is simple; because I want to do an even greater job.

Writing isn't something I'm open about. Most people that know me personally don't know I write. Only close family and a few friends, and even some of them were told when I'd had one too many to drink. The reason? I think J Cole said it best.

"If they don't know your dreams, they can't shoot them down."

BOOK REVIEW: What Might Have Been by Matt Dunn

3/5 Stars

Blurb: 

A year ago, Evan and Sarah shared one incredible night. Then Evan’s music—the thing that brought them together—suddenly tore them apart.

Since then, Evan’s not been able to forget about her. And try as she might, Sarah can’t seem to get over him either.

With time running out, Evan’s got one last chance to convince her that the two of them were meant to be. But is one night enough for Sarah to make a decision about the rest of her life—even if it was the best night of her life? And if she doesn’t believe in love at first sight, how can Evan persuade her that what they had will last?

Review:

Being a writer of a romance book but never really reading any of that genre, I decided to start. What made me pick Matt Dunn's book I'm not sure, but overall, I really enjoyed this story of Evan and Sarah, a couple who have a one night stand (and lunch the next day) but then don't see each other for a year. When the pair meet again, Sarah is engaged to another man, and Evan is keen to make her realize that he's the one for her, not her fiance.

I absolutely loved the beginning of this book, but admittedly, it started to get a bit repetitive towards the middle/end. Sarah seemed to have the same conversations with her friend about her dilemma with the two men, and frankly, I just wanted them to hurry up and make up their mind. I really liked Evan as a character, and I was rooting for the two of them to work it out, but I just wanted it to happen a little sooner.

That said, Matt Dunn's writing style is very easy to read and and his story is easy to immerse yourself in. It was a pleasurable read overall. However, I really didn't like the ending. It seemed an abrupt finish really, and after all of the repetitive conversations throughout the book, I felt this could have been cut down for a more thorough and explained ending.

Giveaway: Signed Copies of 'Synergy'

I am giving away 2 signed PROOF copies of 'Synergy' in paperback. Please note this is open to British residents only (sorry, but postage..) Enter the giveaway here.

BOOK REVIEW: Girl Number One by Jane Holland

3/5 stars

Blurb:

As a young child, Eleanor Blackwood witnessed her mother's murder in woods near their farm. The killer was never found.

Now an adult, Eleanor discovers a woman's body in the same spot in the Cornish woods where her mother was strangled eighteen years before. But when the police get there, the body has disappeared.

Is Eleanor’s disturbed mind playing tricks on her again, or has her mother’s killer resurfaced? And what does the number on the dead woman’s forehead signify?

Review:

I really enjoyed the author's writing style. It was easy, gripping and always kept interesting, even when nothing major was happening. I did find it slowed a little in the middle but the beginning and the end kept me gripped. From about 70% onwards I read until the end.

Speaking of 70%, the sex scene at this point made me cringe a little bit. I found it a bit awkward and not brilliantly written. At one point the character describes them 'making love' later in the book, but at the time it seemed more like a quick hookup. I would have liked to have seen Eleanor choose a guy throughout the book, rather than flitting from one to the next.

The whole way through I was trying to guess who the murderer was, and I thought it was going to be predictable. I won't say who I thought it was because of spoilers but it wasn't who I thought it would be. While I liked the fact I didn't guess it, the reasoning behind it wasn't that solid. It seemed slightly far fetched an explanation but I don't suppose I'd know a better answer for it all.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. It wasn't the best thing I've ever read but it kept me entertained for a few days. It's not very often I read thriller genres so it was a good introduction. I might start to read this genre a little bit more now.