Louise Jensen

Wow! I thought I'd enjoyed The Sister but The Gift is even better, and I didn't think that would even be possible! Louise Jensen has exceeded all of my expectations after The Sister and has written a cracker of a book, one that stays with you long after you have turned the last page.

Jenna is grateful to receive a heart transplant and wants to thank the family of the donor in person. This isn't recommended by the hospital, but Jenna feels so strongly about it that she hires a private show more investigator to find Callie's family. Callie's family aren't exactly what she imagined them to be but Jenna feels like she knows them, although she can't explain the depth of her feelings. When Jenna finds out that Callie had a sister, Sophie, she is determined to find her. Jenna follows her instinct and takes her lead from strange flashbacks that seem to show Callie's life. What is Callie trying to tell her? All Jenna knows is that she must find Sophie. As she gets closer to the truth, she puts herself in more danger and she ends up in a race against time as it feels like her body is starting to reject Callie's heart.

I'm not sure if Jenna's heart was beating as wildly as mine was throughout this book; I could barely keep hold of my kindle as my palms started to sweat near the end. I loved the exploration of cellular memory and it's something that I do believe in, especially with a heart transplant. Is the heart just an organ that keeps us alive or is it so much more than that? I'd love to think that the heart is more than a vessel, that it contains all our feelings, hopes and fears. It's so comforting to think that an organ transplanted in another person means that the donor hasn't completely died. It's quite magical to think that a little piece of the donor lives on and the recipient absorbs a little of their very essence.

The Gift is so much more than a psychological thriller, although it is certainly a fantastic one, but for me it's a thought provoking look at the magic of the human body. It is also a stark reminder of how fragile we are and how by simply registering on the organ donor register we can save so many lives in the event of our death.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest an unbiased opinion. show less

James and Cass are offered the opportunity to be caretakers of Newington House. The house however has a dark reputation, it's a murder house. Shortly after moving in strange occurrences happen, the clock will stop at the same time, objects get moved and there is a smell of lemons.

This is the second book now that I've read by the author and again I found it an OK read. This book is a thriller with spooky goings on and one almighty twist which I didn't see coming.

I did have a fun time reading show more this book but when the reveals happened the story did take on a dark turn. I did find the last part of story dragged on a bit and was a little bit repetitive. Another twist to finish the story again didn't see it coming.

I would read more by the author in the future as I did enjoy both books I've read. show less

What a dark and gripping premise The Family has. That tagline "Once you're in, they'll never let you leave" really grabbed my attention.

Laura has just lost her husband, Gavan, in tragic circumstances, leaving her alone with their 17 year old daughter, Tilly. Uncertainty about the nature of his death means that any money that may be due to them is delayed and may not be forthcoming at all. They always say you are only three wage packets away from losing everything and Laura is facing this show more herself so when a local woman comes up with a solution it seems like the answer to her prayers.

That solution is a local community (some may say cult) led by Alex, a charming and attractive man to whom both Laura and Tilly are drawn. But it isn't long before Laura begins to question her decision to put her faith in Alex and his community.

This is a book that is chock full of secrets. I think every single character had at least one thing they were trying to keep hidden. It's brilliantly plotted though so that each secret is revealed at just the right moment for maximum impact. It really made me think about how easy it is to fall into bad situations and find yourself unable to climb out again. I felt for Laura, responsible for her daughter, dealing with their grief and loss, but it also demonstrated the lengths we will go to to protect our children.

This is a fantastic psychological thriller. I wanted to know how it would all turn out and whether Laura and Tilly would recover anything of their old lives or not. Towards the end, as revelation after revelation was thrown at me I was whipping through the pages as fast as I could.

I thought it was really clever how the story was told mostly from the points of view of Laura and Tilly and how the teenage mind saw things so differently to the mother's mind. For instance, several times Laura thought she was behaving in a calm and understanding way only for Tilly to see it as her mother being annoyed or angry. Seeing it from both sides provided a real sense of the mother/daughter dynamic.

The whole 'community' storyline is a fascinating one. What makes a person drop out of mainstream life, giving up many of the modern luxuries we are used to? In Laura's case it was desperation and I suspect that's the case for many people who join such communities. I thought the author did a great job at portraying the claustrophobic feel of the one in this novel.

All in all I found The Family to be a thrilling and at times creepy read. I definitely don't want to be part of this Family! show less

This feels a very big book. A young girl has a fall and ends in a coma. Who could have caused this and why? This is a book with multiple layers and so many twists, it‘s very much like peeling the layers off an onion. Told from multiple points of views, which I feel helps the storyline. This had me hooked from the beginning and loved the story telling of it. So many surprises along the way, and oh so many secrets! Definitely recommended!

This was my first Louise Jensen book but definitely show more won‘t be my last. The book was set in the U.K. but through it I felt it could have easily been set in the US. Had to keep telling myself it wasn‘t.

An excellent ending to the book, but not without some tears along the way.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. #NetGalley show less