What a privilege and pleasure to be asked to read a proof copy of Kelly Florentia's sequel to No Way Back. This request via Twitter excited me from the offset. Receiving the paperback Her Secret was soul cheering; I opened the package with eager anticipation and glee. My palms ran over the covers, gently, like I was holding a baby. It was smooth and cold but my hands were about to bring it to warmth and life as I opened its first pages, published by Urbane Publications.
I found it very hard to get past the first sentence written in CAPITAL LETTERS. It almost commands reflecting on the answer, as if the lovely author is asking you a question through soul-waves.
I press on into Chapter 1. I instantly love it as its written in the first person and I identify with the protagonist's sentiments. And then I turn over the first page to find Cyprus is mentioned - my second home for three special years. I just KNOW I am going to love this story. During the first two chapters the intrigue kicks in and warning bells about Audrey Fox's relationship begin to ring in my head.
The pace, or was it my heart, quickens. By Chapter 7 I can't put it down - I'm well and truly hooked - well we love a bit of gossip and hearing others secrets don't we?
During Chapter 12 I had my Counsellor's hat on and wanted to persuade Audrey to come to my Private Practise cosy room where she could off-load to her hearts content in confidence that all this 'stuff' whizzing about her brain could unravel, make sense and give her answers to the way forward. Poor girl, I fear she will have a nervous breakdown if she doesn't tell someone something soon. It gets so intense that I have to put the book down for a breather - I'm so wrapped up in the situation. I have to 'come out' of the book into the calm reality of my life. And yet.... I am pulled back, soooooo wanting to know how Audrey gets tangled into a web like a fly. I'm scared for her. The writing is alive, vibrant, thrilling and compelling.
I love how Audrey's brain works - where there is one truth there are lots of negative lies buzzing around her brain until the next sentence or paragraph or chapter negates these thoughts. How often do we go off on a tangent in moments of stress, creating worst case scenarios in our head or telling ourselves we've got it all wrong and try to make good sense from a bad situation, refusing to believe the plain obvious truth or trust our gut instincts?
There are laugh out loud moments too - I'm sure readers will love Audrey's bubble bath scene and swear never to take a mobile phone into the bathroom ever again. I mean, you may have dropped yours in the water or down the loo, but never what Audrey did!
Audrey's life bumps from one catastrophe to another. She should work for the fire brigade putting flames out that have been lit and fanned by her nearest and dearest. Her brain, however, pours oil on the sparks rather than water. But that's what some personality types (me included) do when trouble rears its head we make it ten times worse by our thoughts. Imagination is a weird and wonderful thing.
The author writes so that the reader can 'see' the characters, smell them, like them or loathe them as each scene unfolds. I read quicker then I normally do, entangled in the mind games and topsy turvy way the story gripped me. Reaching the end, I was holding my breath and closing the covers the words 'Bloody Brilliant' came to mind. I again put my palms on the covers noting the black and white and tinges of red. There is a moral to this novel - see if you can find it.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED READ....... 5 stars Kelly Florentia.
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