This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Reviewed by Kelly Allen
Max and Ali live in Dublin with their two children Jessica and Tom. Having worked their way to the top of the bakery industry together, they are shocked to see it become the target of cruel pranks. This is followed by a terrible accident involving Jessica, and their perfect world is suddenly shattered.
Max’s brother Finn is also married, living with his wife Jo and daughter Grace. Finn’s career is in trouble and the strain is beginning to show between the once carefree and loved-up couple.
Both couples have to face up to secrets of the past and decide if there is any chance of a future…
This book was easy to get into, the characters were well defined and the storyline simple to follow. I really enjoyed the parts that involved Jo and Finn meeting for the first time and watching their relationship blossom; it was very romantic and well written.
I did have trouble with the flitting from past to present tense; the past was told in the present tense and the present told in the past – I found this a struggle to read but then I do not enjoy reading work in the present tense anyway, so this is just my personal preference.
I would have also liked the story to have been a little darker; it was very light-hearted in my opinion, especially the bakery pranks and the person responsible. I really liked the descriptions of the pranks, however, and how Ali feels when they are taking place – it made me feel stressed and concerned myself.This book is definitely for somebody who likes light thrillers, as I have said, it wasn’t quite on-the-edge-of-my-seat reading, but a good starter book for those finding their feet in the thriller world. If you enjoyed reading Daughter by Jane Shemilt, then this might be a good book for you.
I have to admit I was disappointed with the ending, and it finished quite abruptly. I felt it was slightly unrealistic, but if you like a happy ending you won’t be disappointed.
6/10