The One You Love

A simple enough recipe- take one disappearing fiancé, one reappearing ex-boyfriend, one resurfacing celebrity stalker, one brother with a troubled heart, one father who previously disappointed his children and a best friend who is too good to be true. Mix together, toss lightly, and enjoy.

Just when you think you know where this story is going the author skillfully throws a sneaky curve and slams you sideways. This is a true roller coaster ride complete with swift twists and jerking turns. For those who enjoy who dunnit mysteries, this one is served with meat. Well done. May I have another?

What a cracking read this was - completely unputdownable! The initial premise was intriguing and the twists and turns meant I couldn't really hazard a guess at who was at the back of everything until almost the end. Great story, great characters and the one sentence ending I was hoping for...

I quite enjoyed this: it starts well, with a realistic yet intriguing situation, attractive characters and cliffhanger chapter endings ...

But then one finds oneself being played with on practically every page. Nameless characters are introduced, broad hints are dropped that characters are lying, or are keeping secrets, or have something they are desperate to hide, or aren't who they say they are, or have dubious motives of one sort or another for various mysterious reasons. I mean, it just begins to get a bit silly.

The characters are likable, though flimsy, and sometimes treated too casually by the author; however, I did want to know the answers. Before long, though, things became simply unbelievable, mainly in the service of all the show more thrilling twists and turns.

Tiresome, too, is the characters' tendency never merely to say anything: they assert, affirm, confirm, deny, comfort, bawl, chide, growl, rasp, etc. (actually I did make a couple of those up - but maybe not the ones you think).

A flawed attempt, but a page-turner that might distract you on a plane or train journey. show less

To be honest, as a mystery novel lover, I figured everything out from the beginning.

I forgot a lot of the character's names because there was no attachment. I remembered them through actions.

"Oh yeah, that's the girl. Wait what was her role again?"

My point is, there was really no lead in this novel. Everyone played a minor role including the victims (which was everyone). Even with Emma as the primary character and all that followed her until the end, I still feel like I don't know her. I think Stuart was the only one that had more explanation of who he was.

I gave this a three-star because it got interesting after the visit to the Myers home but that was the only climax. You finally realize what was really going on. I believe this show more happened somewhere in the middle of the book so you must really get pass all the dragging of the voice of reason from Emma as she tried to understand why her fiance left her and who assaulted Richard. Confused? Don't be. There really is no confusion. You will hear less about Richard throughout the book. I almost forgot he existed.

This book will have you wondering who these people are then why they did the things they did. The author gave you the answers for the action but never once did he want you to feel anything for the characters. Since this is a series, book one is a lengthy introduction. It's not a book to fall in love with, although the book is about "what would you do for love." There is irony somewhere in there if you ask me.

Will I read book 2? I started book two because of my curiosity.

Read More: http://kindlecorners.com/review/the-one-you-love-emma-holden-suspense-mystery-tr... show less

2.5*

This suspense thriller would have been more thrilling if the main character Emma Holden was more believable. I started to say to myself "oh, come on!" each time she said 'you're probably right but...'. And I just don't believe that someone who was supposed to have been traumatized by a stalker in the past would ever voluntarily seek that person out, particularly without trying even one alternative first!.

As an e-book success that made it to print, I really wanted to like this. How cool to be such a success online that the gatekeepers come to you? However, after a promising start, I soon found elements of the book grating on me: the characters who all seemed to share a common (bland) personality, the cringey banter between them, the plot facilitated by slapdash security/data protection at the hospital, over-description of body language and general telling not showing. As a story, though, it was well thought out: I didn't guess how it would end, and it built up from the start a hook to keep the reader interested. The writing style, if unspectacular, was clear and readable. But it's the first of a trilogy and if you don't mind I'll skip show more the rest. show less

This suspense thriller would have been more thrilling if the main character Emma Holden was more believable. I started to say to myself "oh, come on!" each time she said 'you're probably right but...'. And I just don't believe that someone who was supposed to have been traumatized by a stalker in the past would ever voluntarily seek that person out, particularly without trying even one alternative first!.