zooloo1983
Written on Dec 1, 2018
I am writing this moment after I finished this book to try and understand what I have read. I was intrigued by this series from reading the blurb. Our MC Sophie, training to be a counsellor bonding with a lady called Cassie who has a troubled past and how Sophie delves into her past as she tries to discover who her “stalker” is.
Now 97% of this book is not about the stalker elements they take a back seat, we spend a lot of time with Sophie revisiting her past where she would love to keep it, in the past. Two different kinds of boyfriends with two different kinds of outcomes but where abuse and alcoholism play a huge factor.
I found that I was shouting at Sophie when we were in her past to run away and go. Now having been in a minute abusive relationship (mine nowhere near the levels as depicted in this book) it is easy to see how and why someone stays. The confidence goes, the fight goes and you seem to blame yourself for everything. I did think she was a bit foolish with Jay at the start, but she was enamoured by him, and he paid her attention, so there was no problem right? wrong! It was a long and sad dark road for Sophie and she got free. Straight to Kyle.
This relationship again you can see all the reasons why she would stay, the guilt, the need to help until you get to stay where you need to help yourself and look after you.
While we live this turbulent time in Sophie’s life, someone is stalking her, but as I say it takes a back seat and it was over before it began. Normally something like that would annoy, but with this book, you can tell the author is beginning to set in stone the foundations of her next story. We are learning about Sophie, her growth and her amazing strength she has and the tools she has used to get to where she is now.
There was one scene where I had murderous thoughts and if you are a cat lover well you know what I mean when you read it. it hit home for me as it happened recently to one of my friends and it was shocking in real life let alone reading in a book!
The book is driven so much by the characters, I was enthralled by Sophie’s storyline. I wanted to know what drove her and how she got to where she is now. When she was panicking, I found I was panicking at times, willing her to speed up, calm down or get out! I cared what happened to this ever so trusting, chooser of bad men! She had my attention and she told me her heartbreaking story but countered it with growth.
I am not sure how I would put this into one genre because it is not. You have an element of mystery, domestic thriller and the psychological. To me, this was a strong start to the series setting me off on my adventure to book two, hope to see you back here on the 7th!