Today it's my turn on the BlogTour The Stepsister by Jenny O'Brien. A tense psychological thriller which unfolds between Guernsey and The Netherlands.
Don't forget to enter the fantastic Giveaway at the bottom of the post - 1st Prize Win an e-copy of The Stepsister and crystal, tulip slider necklace , 2 x 2nd Prize – an e-copy of The Stepsister (Open Internationally)
About the Author
Jenny O'Brien was born in Ireland and, after a brief sojourn in Wales, now resides in Guernsey. She's an avid reader and book reviewer for NetGalley in addition to being a RoNA judge.
She writes for both children and adults with a new book coming out every six months or so. She's also an avid collector of cats, broken laptops, dust and happy endings - two of which you'll always find in her books.
In her spare time she can be found frowning at her wonky cakes and even wonkier breads. You'll be pleased to note she won't be entering Bake-Off.
Follow @ScribblerJB on Twitter, On Facebook,Visit jennyobrienwriter.wordpress.com, Buy The Stepsister
About the book
Desperate for the truth, Victoria heads to Holland to find out what happened to her. Has she, as her texts show, embarked on a whirlwind romance? Has someone abducted her or even worse? But there’s someone watching, and that person wants her dead. Can Victoria find out the truth before it’s too late?
When the stepsisters Ness and Victoria receive notification of an inheritance in Holland they both have very different reactions to the news. Victoria isn't interested and Ness can't wait to find out how much money can be made on the other side of the North Sea. Ness leaves Nigel with her stepsister, boards a plane for the land of the tulips and is never seen again.
Victoria sets out to discover what happened, perhaps more out of annoyance than worry. She has a four-legged mutt to return to his owner. She quickly finds herself embroiled in a mystery and has to fight for her life.
It's almost symbolic how Nigel (the dog) becomes the invisible and tangible link between Vanessa and Victoria. The sisterly relationship they seem unable to build, sustain or even admit to on some level, takes place in the strangest way possible, via the dog. They both care and worry about Nigel, who becomes the accidental hero of the story, making him the furry conduit for their unspoken emotions.
This is all about relationships and bonds, regardless of whether there is a blood connection. The two women lose time and experiences, because they were raised to consider each other as separate entities, as opposed to part of one unit. Their mother made sure both of them took a stance against each other - like strangers in the same family.
The story weaves in and out of both women's stories, which might have been simpler to follow with a name at the start of the chapter or paragraph. Saying that I think that was intentional, due to the nature and development of the plot. Personally I would have liked more clarity and less improbable scenarios.
It's a tense psychological thriller which unfolds between Guernsey and The Netherlands. A tale of loss and gain in equal measures.
Buy The Stepsister at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.
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Thank you, Cheryl for reviewing 🌷
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